In the last ten days, Jews the world over celebrated the holiest of our holy days: Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

While I took away more lessons than the one I am about to impart, this lesson stands out the most. What did I learn?

I learned that Jews are not safe worshipping in their synagogues without having a police presence greater than we have ever had before. And it’s necessary. There were synagogue attacks on Rosh Hashana in Russia and Norway.

I learned that the off-duty police officers (whose salaries come out of the synagogue’s budget, and are not provided by the towns in which we worship) are now a standard practice of High Holy Day services. Ours were particularly aggressive, for which I was strangely grateful. No one got in without a ticket.

I learned that Jews are not free to worship as they please, even here in America—because too many people the world over blame all Jews for anything they dislike about Israel. Or for anything they dislike about Jews. Or for anything they dislike, for that matter.

Our children are already learning at a young age that they are not safe in their religious schools—we surround them with security from pre-school on.

When I was growing up, the only reason we had a police officer outside the synagogue was to direct traffic so that the congregants could cross the street.

Times change.