American Gothic with earbuds; American Jewry with metal fences, hidden names
On a wall in the Intermountain Jewish News office is a poster from the Colorado Press Assn. convention in 2012. “American Gothic” is parodied with the stern-looking Midwestern farmer and his dour daughter outfitted with . . . earbuds and smartphones. “The New Normal,” reads the caption, a nod to the digital age and some ways people were getting their news.
A month ago, attendees arriving at a talk in Denver by the mother of a former Hamas hostage, were met at the entrance of the synagogue parking lot by armed security asking for ID and registration credentials. The synagogue property is surrounded by a metal security fence. Upon entering the building, attendees showed ID again and went through a metal detector. The New Normal.
A local Jewish day school was advised to move its main entrance from a busy street around the corner to the rear of the property, and to move the sign with the school’s name. The school was also advised by the Secure Community Network no longer to fly the Israeli flag alongside the Stars and Stripes outside. The New Normal.
These days, most synagogues and Jewish buildings have full-time security guards at the main entrances. The New Normal.
The locations of Jewish communal events are rarely publicized in press releases or advertisements in the IJN anymore. “Location upon registration” is now commonplace. Event organizers do not want to make the location public, and need to know exactly who is coming. The New Normal.
Rabbis at a large local synagogue now begin services and large gatherings by pointing out the sanctuary exits. The New Normal.
Most people understand the need for these security measures, and even appreciate them. When leaving events or services, people should make it a point to thank the police or the security guards for keeping them safe. In keeping the Jewish community and its facilities safe, the “New Normal” — while warranted — feels anything but.
We wish the Jewish community wouldn’t need to spend millions of dollars and countless hours on security; we wish anti-Semitism hadn’t burgeoned and become acceptable in many circles. But until such a time when Jew-hatred goes extinct, we must embrace and appreciate the ample efforts behind The New Normal.
© IJN 2026
