Jewish and Israeli Communities Face Heightened Risks During Holiday Period

Key Takeaways:

• The Jewish holidays of Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah are due to be celebrated in October 2025, presenting elevated security risks for Israeli and Jewish communities worldwide.

  
  

• The 07 October 2023 Hamas attack, which was scheduled to deliberately coincide with the Sukkot and Simchat Torah festivals, demonstrates how extremist actors continue to exploit Jewish holidays as opportunities for symbolic attacks.

  
  

• Palestinian nationalists, Islamist fundamentalists, and other anti-Israeli extremist groups may seek to target synagogues, Israeli settlements (particularly in Golan Heights), diaspora communities, and Israeli-linked shipping operators in the Red Sea using violent tactics for ideological and political reasons.

  
  

• Significant security measures are likely to be implemented within Israel during this period, posing potential disruptions to business operations and transportation routes.

  
  

• This threat pattern is expected to extend beyond October, with Hanukkah (December 14-22 December 2025) identified as another high-risk period requiring sustained security vigilance and protective measures.

Israel at War – Recent Context

Since 07 October 2023, the severity of security threats faced by Israeli government agencies, corporations, and private individuals has increased exponentially. Public outrage over the Israeli military’s campaign in Gaza has reached fever pitch, particularly in the last few months. Key developments such as the declaration of man-made famine in Gaza by the United Nations, Israel-Iran conflict, and strike against Hamas negotiators in Qatar have caused global antagonism towards Israel to increase significantly, placing Israeli individuals and corporations alike at a greater risk of targeted harassment and violence.

Extremist threat actors, who remain motivated by a wide range of ideologies such as Palestinian nationalism, Islamist fundamentalist, or revolutionary anti-capitalism, have increasingly attacked Israeli or Jewish targets on significant religious observances for symbolic purposes. Looking forward, three key Jewish holidays due to take place in October 2025 may elevate the security risks faced by these communities, thus necessitating additional security precautions near religious sites, private residences, and public spaces. 

Yom Kippur

From 01 – 02 October 2025, the holy day of Yom Kippur is due to be celebrated. Yom Kippur, traditionally celebrated on the 10^th day of Tishrei in the Hebrew lunar calendar, is considered to be one of the holiest days in Judaism, and is primarily centred around the themes of atonement and repentance. The occasion is typically marked with family gatherings and special prayer services at synagogues.

In previous years, this significant date has served as a flashpoint for military conflicts involving Israel. For example, on 06 October 1973, an Arab coalition of Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a surprise attack against Israel, marking the outbreak of the so-called Yom Kippur war. This strategic attack initiated a three-week-long conflict, which has come to be considered of the region’s deadliest and one which has significantly shaped the state of relations between Israel and its Arab neighbours. The war ended on 26 October 1973, leading Israel to sign a formal ceasefire agreement with Egypt on 11 November 1973 and with Syria on 31 May 1974.

The majority of fighting during the Yom Kippur war was concentrated in the Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula, which have since been returned to Syria and Egypt respectively. As such, Israeli border towns located near these regions may face especially heightened security risks during this period due to historical memories of the war. Moreover, the significant expansion of Israeli settlements within the Golan Heights in recent years, abetted by the rhetoric of far-right cabinet ministers such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, means that this area is highly likely to face reprisal attacks by Palestinian nationalists.

Sukkot

From 06 – 13 October 2025, the harvest festival of Sukkot is due to be celebrated. Sukkot is typically celebrated by the construction of temporary shelters called sukkahs, which are used to host large feasts giving thanks for the year’s harvest. This practice commemorates the Israelites' 40-year journey through the desert after being presented with the Torah on top of Mt Sinai. Sukkot is also referred to as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths.  

The festival’s symbolic appeal to anti-Israel threat actors was demonstrated to devastating effect on 07 October 2023, when an invasion by Hamas operatives resulted in 1,200 deaths and the abduction of over 250 residents, approximately 50 of whom remain in captivity as of writing. Over the past two years, 07 October has become a date synonymous with this attack, and one which may inspire copycat attacks by lone-wolf threat actors or anti-Israel militant groups. Moreover, within Israeli, public anger regarding the government’s inability to recover the remaining hostages and unwillingness to enter ceasefire negotiations means that mass anti-government protests are highly likely to take place on the 2^nd anniversary of the 07 October attacks. These will both elevate the level of civil unrest within Israel and pose operational disruptions to businesses and transportation networks, particularly in central areas of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem where anti-government protests have been concentrated in recent months.

Significant security measures are likely to be implemented within Israel on this day, meaning that the greatest risks will likely be faced by Jewish diaspora communities and Israeli-linked vessels transiting the Red Sea. Houthi rebels have previously staged attacks against shipping operators and mainland Israeli targets on symbolically significant dates to express solidarity with Hamas and Palestine, meaning that such events are highly likely to be replicated in October 2025. This may also extend to subsea fibre optic cables being sabotaged: a scenario which could significantly disrupt global business operations and digital connectivity.

Simchat Torah

From 13 – 15 October 2025, the Simchat Torah festival will be celebrated: a holiday which marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle. During this period, Torah scrolls are typically removed from their arks and carried through synagogues seven times in a procession.

Given that this observance is primarily religious in character, the majority of celebrations during this period will be based near synagogues. As such, these locations may be targeted by extremist threat actors during Simchat Torah for political reasons, elevating the risks faced by practicing worshippers. 

Future Risks

Patterns of violence observed from the mid-20^th century to present day suggest that Jewish and Israeli communities worldwide face a heightened risk of violence during celebratory periods such as Yom Kippur, Sukkot, or Simchat Torah. Extremist threat actors continue to perceive Jewish holidays as symbolic opportunities to exact revenge for Israel’s military ongoing military operations in Gaza: a trend which appears likely to continue should Prime Minister Netanyahu continue with his current strategy. Looking beyond October, the holy festival of Hanukkah, which is scheduled to take place between 14 – 22 December 2025, is also assessed as a time of year likely to witness an increase in targeted violence against Jewish and Israeli entities, and one which will likely necessitate heightened vigilance and precautionary measures.  

For further information on how to protect your assets ahead of the Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah festivals, please do not hesitate to contact Global Situational Awareness for further details.