BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — The High Holidays are coming, and Jewish communities across Bergen County are preparing for more than packed synagogues and holiday services.

They are preparing for security threats.

The Bergen Record reported Tuesday that Jewish institutions across the country are increasing security ahead of the High Holidays as antisemitic incidents continue to rise. The response includes armed guards, cameras and trained community volunteers.

The concern is especially real in New Jersey.

In March, a young man leaving a Teaneck synagogue was shot with a gel pellet gun by a group of teenagers who chased him and asked whether he supported Israel or Palestine.

In June, federal authorities charged a 22-year-old Wayne man with planning an ISIS-inspired attack on a synagogue.

And last month, Jewish organizations in Jackson Township were targeted in a series of antisemitic incidents.

The incidents come as antisemitic hate crimes remain at historically high levels. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents accounted for nearly 63 percent of all religion-based hate crimes nationwide last year.

“Fear will not define us,” said Jason Shames, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. “We are strong, connected and determined to live Jewishly, openly and proudly.”

But behind that message of resilience is a growing security operation.

Synagogues around the country are adding cameras, armed guards, metal detectors and volunteer security teams. The Community Security Service, a New York-based nonprofit that trains Jewish community members in security, now has more than 7,100 volunteers protecting roughly 500 synagogues and Jewish events each week, according to CEO Richard Priem.

New Jersey has become one of the organization’s largest areas of activity, with roughly 1,000 active CSS volunteers across the state.

The volunteers work with law enforcement and community partners and are trained to spot suspicious activity and respond to security concerns.

Over the past year, CSS volunteers logged about 300,000 hours and responded to 295 incidents, Priem said. He said the organization has helped stop threats before they could become more serious.

“There were dozens of incidents that nobody heard about this year because we took steps with law enforcement to thwart them before anyone could do harm,” Priem said.

The goal for Jewish communities is not to make security the focus of the High Holidays.

It is to make sure security is strong enough that it can stay in the background.

“People should feel reassured knowing that there is a massive infrastructure from within the community working with law enforcement to keep people safe,” Priem said. “No one should be afraid to openly celebrate this year.”

For Bergen County’s Jewish community, that means entering the High Holidays with the same message that has become increasingly common since Oct. 7: Stay vigilant, stay together and keep living Jewishly in the open.