The recent spike in antisemitism across the United States has led to Jewish communities taking matters into their own hands.
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Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob in Albany, New York, has requested local authorities for permission to erect a 2.5 meter-high (8 feet) fence around its property on Whitehall Road to protect its members from assaults.
Arthur Brenner, the congregation's president, said that the fence was one of several security upgrades the community had decided on.
"The security project, including the fence, is sadly a necessity for our community's protection in these increasingly challenging times," he said in an emailed statement.
The congregation pitched the idea to the city's Planning Department already last year. The proposal includes a decorative metal fence with brick pillars along Whitehall Road, with a gate at the front entrance, all the while reducing the visual impact to prevent complaints from those living in the area.
The deadly shooting that took place at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburg on October 27, 2018, was a turning point for many congregations, including Beth Abraham-Jacob, which has since hired armed security for every large community event.
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