The right to worship shall not be infringed

Synagogues are becoming recurring targets in America. Just days ago, Kabbalat Shabbat services at Central Synagogue in the heart of New York City were disrupted when a man violently assaulted a congregant and a security guard.

Last November, at Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, congregants were greeted by roughly 200 protesters chanting “ Globalize the intifada ,” “Death to the IDF ” and “We need to make them scared,” forcing synagogue attendees to face a torrent of antisemitic slurs and threats. Then, in May, the harassment returned . This time, demonstrators waved a Hezbollah flag and screamed “rapist” and “pedophile” at Jewish people simply trying to enter the synagogue.

The fact that American houses of worship require police protection just to let its congregation through the door should alarm every American.

The pattern goes beyond New York: in Los Angeles, a group of masked antisemitic protesters gathered outside Wilshire Boulevard Temple , shouting “baby killers” and “Zionist pigs” at those seeking to enter. Two protesters eventually were arrested, for battery and destruction of property , after forcing their way inside of the synagogue.

These are not isolated incidents. They represent a dangerous escalation threatening the fundamental right to worship freely and safely.

In 2025 alone, ADL documented dozens of protest-related antisemitic incidents and nearly 530 incidents of harassment at synagogues in the United States. While overall antisemitic incidents declined since the year prior, physical assaults reached record levels.

And the crisis extends beyond the Jewish community. An LDS church was besieged and burned to the ground last fall in Michigan, and in May, three people were killed protecting students and worshipers at San Diego’s largest mosque. Houses of worship across the U.S. increasingly are being turned into flashpoints for confrontation rather than havens for reflection and community.

That’s why ADL worked to craft and build broad coalition support for the bipartisan and bicameral Right to Worship Act, recently introduced in Congress by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Brad Knott (R-N.C.).

The Right to Worship Act would establish a 100-foot safe access zone around places of religious worship, prohibiting conduct intended to disrupt religious services or impede people from attending them.

At its core, the Right to Worship Act protects two fundamental American values: religious freedom and free speech. It explicitly safeguards the right to peacefully protest and other forms of protected expression under the First Amendment while drawing a clear line when conduct prevents or disrupts the ability of congregants to attend services.

This new law is necessary. Existing protections at the federal level do not adequately address non-violent conduct that nevertheless is intended to intimidate worshippers, obstruct their passage, or interfere with their First Amendment right to religious worship.

The Right to Worship Act builds on growing momentum at the state and local level. Along with community partners, ADL led coalition efforts to secure the passage of safe worship zone bills in New York, Maryland and Arizona, and in March, the New York City Council passed buffer zone legislation with a veto-proof majority. We continue to advocate for pending legislation in California and Pennsylvania as lawmakers in multiple other states are actively advancing similar measures. Much of this progress has been built on ADL’s research, model legislation and advocacy, and it demonstrates that leaders across the country recognize what is at stake.

The American people overwhelmingly agree . Support for buffer zone protections outside houses of worship reaches 70 percent of registered New York voters, a state that has been at the center of this debate. This support transcends partisan divides: 73 percent of Democrats, 73 percent of Republicans and 63 percent of independents back these measures. Support is equally strong across faith communities, with 83 percent of Jews, 76 percent of Muslims and 72 percent of Christians supporting buffer zone protections.

This broad interfaith and bipartisan coalition reflects a fundamental truth: the right to worship without fear is not a Jewish issue, a Christian issue or a Muslim issue. It is an American issue.

The question before Congress is straightforward: Will we continue to subject worshippers to intimidation and fear as they simply try to enter houses of worship, or will we reaffirm our commitment to religious freedom as a cornerstone of American democracy?

Federal action is needed now. State and local efforts, while important, cannot provide comprehensive, nationwide protection that only federal legislation can deliver. The Right to Worship Act complements existing laws while filling critical gaps, ensuring that all can exercise their constitutional right to worship freely.

Jonathan Greenblatt is CEO and National Director of ADL (the Anti-Defamation League).