In the aftermath of an attempted terror attack on a Hindu temple last week, Jewish leaders are drawing on a shared experience of confronting religious hatred to strengthen ties between the two communities — including by expanding sustained advocacy to protect houses of worship.

The long-standing outreach has grown as both communities confront ongoing fears of religiously motivated threats. Hindu advocates have historically supported Jewish community security initiatives, including government grants to help protect religious institutions and legislation establishing buffer zones around houses of worship. Now, Jewish leaders are extending that same spirit of solidarity to Hindu Americans and underscoring the importance of interfaith cooperation in confronting religious hatred.

Authorities on Wednesday arrested Alexandros Paporakis, 19, who they said drove to the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, Ill., on Oct. 11, armed with a rifle and body armor and leaving behind an eight-page manifesto detailing white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideologies. The suspect, who was allegedly planning the attack for two years, fled the scene after his rifle jammed.

The foiled attack comes seven months after a terrorist rammed a truck full of explosives into Temple Israel, a synagogue in West Bloomfield, Mich., in an attack the FBI later characterized as an act of terrorism inspired by Hezbollah. While neither incident caused injuries, both highlighted the persistent security risks facing faith-based communities.

Following last week’s thwarted attack, Jewish leaders and organizations expressed solidarity with the Hindu community, noting the shared vulnerabilities of religious minorities and the critical need to protect houses of worship.

The Anti-Defamation League said the attack “underscores why Congress must increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, so at-risk communities have the resources they need to protect themselves.”

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) also called on Congress to “sufficiently fund” the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides security funding to religious institutions.

“I’m disturbed to learn of an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting targeting the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. While I’m grateful for local law enforcement’s swift response in preventing a tragedy, this hateful plot has shaken the Hindu community across the country,” said Rosen. “This should outrage all of us. It’s unacceptable for any religious community to be targeted simply because of who they are.

“We cannot wait for another attack to act. Congress must sufficiently fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program now so we can ensure all religious communities are safe in their places of worship.” 

Elad Strohmayer, consul general of Israel to the Midwest, said in a video message: “To the Hindu community of Illinois and everywhere in the United States — we stand with you … Your safety matters to us a lot … Know that Israel is always with you.”

Hindu American groups have also joined Jewish organizations in advocating for protections around houses of worship. Last month, the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus of North America backed federal legislation known as the Right to Worship Act, which seeks to protect congregants from targeted harassment and disruption outside religious institutions.

The attempted attack came one week before Stand Up Sunday, a nationwide, multifaith initiative led by Robert Kraft’s nonprofit Blue Square Alliance Against Hate and the Appeal of Conscience Foundation that brought together houses of worship to condemn antisemitism and other forms of religious hatred. This year’s event, held Sunday, aimed to engage more than 2 million Americans across religious denominations, including congregations affiliated with BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a Hindu organization.

“As Hindu Temples and other Houses of Worship continue to be attacked and vandalized, simply because of the way we look or worship, we remain steadfast and proud to participate in Stand Up Sunday,” Bawa Jain, an Indian advocate for interfaith dialogue and secretary general of the World Council of Religious Leaders, said in a statement ahead of the event. “An attack against one is an attack on all of us. Let us stand in solidarity with each other and strive to rid our society of the plague of hate.”