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Jewish summer camps ramping up security measures amid rising antisemitism — and parents are footing the bill

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As antisemitism rises across the U.S., Jewish summer camps are ramping up security, with some introducing additional charges while working to combat threats before they arise.

FBI crime data shows that between March 2025 and March 2026, the U.S. recorded 2,421 religion-based hate crime incidents, 1,395 of which targeted Jews. There are hundreds of Jewish summer camps across North America serving tens of thousands of children each year.

A recent attack on a Michigan synagogue highlighted the dangers facing Jewish institutions and the people who rely on them, including children.

On March 12, Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, a 41-year-old Lebanon-born American, allegedly rammed his vehicle into Temple Israel, a large reform synagogue in West Bloomfield, at approximately 12:30 p.m. before exiting the vehicle with a rifle and exchanging gunfire with a security guard, who shot and killed him. Preschool students and staff were forced to evacuate for their safety.

AFTER MICHIGAN ATTACK, JEWISH TEENS SHOW ANTISEMITISM WON’T DEFINE THEM

In the wake of the attack, police departments across the country increased patrols at houses of worship, Jewish institutions and other vulnerable sites. With summer approaching, camps across the country are preparing themselves so they can give children a fun and safe summer.

Secure Community Network (SCN) National Director and CEO Michael Masters told Fox News Digital that the response to the attack in Michigan was the product of “years of preparedness” and investments in security.

“That investment paid off in lives saved,” Masters said.

SCN, which works with Jewish institutions across North America, launched an initiative focused on summer camps in April 2024. The organization told Fox News Digital that since the initiative’s launch, it has trained over 5,000 camp-related individuals, conducted over 100 facility assessments and walkthroughs and secured $2.2 million in federal funding.

Masters also spoke about SCN’s recently-released list of 10 questions to ask camps before sending children off for the summer and encouraged parents to “be persistent” when asking about safety. The questions cover a variety of topics, such as missing camper procedures, availability of first aid kits and tourniquets and how the camp controls access to its facility, among others.

“Parents should ask, ‘was your camp one of those that got an assessment?’ ‘Was your camp, one of the those that got trained?’ ‘Do your counselors know what to do?’ And the camp should be able to answer that question,” Masters said. He added that SCN provides its trainings to institutions for free.

“At the end of the day, a summer camp is still the most vulnerable space that we need to provide security for consultation and guidance,” SCN Director of National Programs Jim Tarasca told Fox News Digital.

Tarasca, who worked in the FBI for over 25 years and served as the Special Agent in Charge of the bureau’s Detroit Field Office, noted that many camps are located in rural areas, presenting challenges such as communications barriers, including bad cellphone service. He also underscored the importance of empowering staff to see safety as “everyone’s responsibility,” rather than the job of designated security workers.

JEWISH SECURITY ORGANIZATION WORKING TO KEEP ITS COMMUNITY SAFE AMID ELEVATED TERROR THREAT

While some camps have included security fees in their tuition, others make it a separate line in their lists of session dates and costs. Some camps that list the security fee separately note that the additional charge is meant to offset rising costs of protecting the campers and staff. While security fees vary widely based on several factors, such as session length and whether it is a day or overnight camp, the charges reviewed by Fox News Digital went as high as $250, highlighting the growing costs.

National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) Summer Director Elliot Tanzman told Fox News Digital that while the organization has always had security protocols, it has become “much more of a focus” in recent years, with the group adding new measures.

As part of its safety measures, NCSY has made changes to its apparel and giveaways because “we’re trying not to scream that we are a Jewish group,” according to Tanzman. While he acknowledged that the dress codes could be signals to some that the participants are Jewish, Tanzman also said that they are making an effort to “not be extra identifiable.”

“It hurts to say something like that where instead of having the word ‘Israel’ on some of our T-shirts, which we’ve had in the past because it’s part of the program name, we’ve shortened it just to say ‘NCSY’ or ‘JSU’ or one of our other brands in order to not bring up any forms of antisemitism that we wouldn’t want to experience over the summer,” Tanzman said.

Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp, said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital that safety and security were a top priority for summer camps. The foundation, according to Simon, can provide guidance from security partners, crisis communications resources and more to help camps continue to operate while keeping kids and staff safe.

“As new challenges emerge, the field is not starting from scratch: camps are experienced, prepared, and deeply committed to the well-being of every young person in their care,” Simon said. “This is a pivotal moment for Jewish life, and Jewish camp offers a joyful, immersive, and proven space where young people develop pride in their Jewish identity, deep friendships, and a sense of belonging that lasts a lifetime.”

Summer camp has played a large role in Jewish American life for more than 120 years. Sunrise Lake Camp, which was founded in 1902, is one of the oldest in the country. The Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York noted that Sunrise Lake Camp was initially founded to give boys in urban areas the chance to experience nature and escape the city heat. Sunrise Lake Camp alumni includes several celebrities, such as Neil Diamond, Jerry Stiller and Gene Simmons.

Fox News Digital’s Eric Mack contributed to this report.

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Hormone therapy boosts weight loss drug results by 35% in women, study finds

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March 29, 2026

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For women struggling with weight gain after menopause, a new study suggests that adding hormone therapy to a popular obesity drug may lead to greater weight loss.

Postmenopausal women lost about 35% more weight when using menopausal hormone therapy alongside tirzepatide — a GLP-1-based, Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for overweight and obesity — compared to those taking the drug alone, according to a Mayo Clinic study.

The findings, published in February in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health, highlight a possible new strategy for addressing weight gain after menopause, when hormonal shifts can increase the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

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“This study provides important insights for developing more effective and personalized strategies for managing cardiometabolic risk in postmenopausal women,” Dr. Regina Castaneda, the study’s first author, said in a statement. 

Researchers analyzed 120 postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity who took tirzepatide for at least 12 months, including 40 who also used hormone therapy and 80 who did not.

Hormone therapy is commonly used to treat menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, while tirzepatide helps regulate appetite and blood sugar.

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Women in the hormone therapy group lost an average of 19.2% of their body weight, compared to 14.0% in the non-hormone group — about 35% greater relative weight loss — with more women reaching significant weight-loss thresholds, according to the study.

Despite the results, researchers emphasized that the study was observational and cannot prove cause and effect.

“Because this was not a randomized trial, we cannot say hormone therapy caused additional weight loss,” said Dr. Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study.

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Outside experts agree that the findings must be interpreted cautiously.

“As with all observational studies, we need to interpret this study with a grain of salt,” Dr. Gillian Goddard, a board-certified endocrinologist, told Fox News Digital. 

Goddard, who is also an adjunct assistant professor of medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, noted that the findings show a link, but do not prove that hormone therapy, which usually includes estrogen, directly caused the additional weight loss.

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“There may be important differences between the two groups,” she added. “For one thing, the group taking estrogen may be healthier than the groups that didn’t take estrogen … Healthier people are more likely to eat a healthy diet and exercise in addition to taking tirzepatide. That could lead to more weight loss.” 

Symptom relief from the therapy may have also improved sleep and well-being, making it easier for the group to maintain diet and exercise routines, Hurtado Andrade noted.

Researchers also pointed to a possible biological explanation. Preclinical data suggest estrogen may enhance the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1-based medications like tirzepatide, according to the study.

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Goddard said that theory is plausible but unproven.

“The other possibility is that estrogen interacts with tirzepatide in some way that makes it more potent,” she said, adding, “We will need randomized studies to get a better handle on that.”

As for safety, experts say using the two together appears safe for most women. However, hormone therapy is not recommended for all patients, especially those with a history of certain cancers, blood clots or other underlying health risks, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Researchers say future randomized trials will aim to confirm the findings and explore whether the combination also improves broader cardiometabolic health outcomes, according to the study.

“If confirmed, this work could speed the development and adoption of new, evidence-based strategies to reduce this risk for millions of postmenopausal women navigating this life stage,” said Hurtado Andrade.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the study authors for comment.

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Nate Smith admits he threw a drink at Morgan Wallen on stage, calling him ‘a very forgiving person’

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March 29, 2026

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Nate Smith got a little too comfortable while performing on stage with fellow country star Morgan Wallen.

During a recent interview with Billboard News, the 40-year-old musician said one of the things he learned about the “Last Night” singer while on tour with him is that “he’s a very forgiving person.”

“One of the nights during the tour, I may have thrown a drink at him on stage. I might have done that. I might have done that,” he admitted. “I might have. And I thought I was trying to be funny, and it wasn’t funny. And Morgan forgave me. He forgave me.”

The singer admitted that Wallen “should have kicked me off the tour,” but that the two of them laughed about it on FaceTime together.

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He explained that after apologizing, Wallen said he understood, telling him, “Man, I probably would have done the same thing, or I’ve done the same thing.”

“He’s a very forgiving person. He has a lot of grace. He’s a good man,” Smith said. “He’s a good man. He’s a great guy. Literally a whole cup. A whole cup. I thought I was the funniest guy in the world.”

After the incident, Smith recalls getting “a lot of phone calls” and that “nobody was happy” about what he did on stage.

“Morgan, if you’re listening, I love you,” Smith added. “I’m still really sorry about that. Thank you for not pranking me back, by the way. You made me think you were going to the entire tour and you didn’t. You held back because you’re a man who walks in grace. Thank you, sir.”

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Wallen has had a rocky road since becoming a country music superstar. The “Whiskey Glasses” singer was arrested and charged in April 2024 with reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct in Tennessee after throwing a chair off a rooftop bar in Nashville, which landed near police officers.

In April 2025, Wallen addressed the incident during an interview on Theo Von’s “Last Weekend” podcast, saying he hasn’t been to a bar “since the last time I was in a bar that everybody knows about.”

He also discussed the downside of fame, explaining, “There’s parts of [fame] that I don’t like.”

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“It’s not ideal to go everywhere, and even if you don’t get bothered, you were on edge the whole time because you thought you might,” he said. “There’s things that you just don’t do. There’s just things you don’t do anymore.”

“I can go be with my buddies, I’m in the middle of nowhere. I can be at ease,” he added. “I can not stress out. You just find ways to supplement it, I think, you know?”

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New study reveals most stressed US states — and they aren’t where you’d expect

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March 29, 2026

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Americans hoping to unwind on their next trip may want to think twice about where they’re headed.

A comparison of all 50 states across 40 indicators of stress — including work, money, family and health factors — found that densely populated states with major metro areas did not top the list, according to a new WalletHub study. Instead, states across the South and Southwest ranked among the most stressed overall.

Louisiana ranks as the most stressed state in the country for 2026, followed by Kentucky, New Mexico, West Virginia and Arkansas, WalletHub found. Rounding out the top 10 were Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Mississippi and Alabama.

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The results may come as a surprise to travelers who might expect New York or Illinois to top the list. Instead, both states ranked lower, with New York at No. 18 and Illinois at No. 30.

Experts say the findings indicate that stress isn’t just tied to fast-paced city life but is often linked to broader economic and health challenges.

“Where we live can shape how much stress we experience,” Cassandra D. Chaney, a professor at Louisiana State University who studies family stress, said in a WalletHub news release.

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“These realities remind us that stress is not simply an individual problem,” she added. “Broader social and economic environments play a powerful role in shaping daily stressors.”

In Louisiana, factors such as high poverty rates, limited access to health care and mental health services, and job insecurity contribute to elevated stress levels, Chaney noted. 

About 16% of residents skipped medical care due to cost, and the state ranks among the worst for poor mental health and depression while also having relatively few psychologists per capita, according to the report. It also recorded the eighth-highest average unemployment rate last year and the lowest job security of any state.

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Kentucky, meanwhile, faces significant financial strain, with one of the highest bankruptcy rates and among the lowest median credit scores in the country.

“New Mexico … faces high crime rates, financial hardship and significant family instability,” Chaney added. “Nevada experiences high unemployment and bankruptcy rates, contributing to financial stress among residents.”

For travelers to popular destinations such as Nevada (No. 6) and California (No. 12), the data suggests daily life may differ from the experience visitors see.

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Meanwhile, some of the least stressed states may offer clues for those seeking a more relaxing getaway.

South Dakota ranked as the least stressed state, followed by Utah, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Vermont, according to the report. These states tend to perform better in areas such as economic stability, health care access and work-life balance.

They also report higher rates of adequate sleep, an often overlooked factor tied to lower stress levels, according to the report.

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Rounding out the top 10 least stressed states were Hawaii, Virginia, Wisconsin, Kansas and North Carolina.

Experts note that stress is influenced by multiple factors and can vary by individual.

“While we cannot eliminate stress completely, we can become more intentional about how we manage it,” Chaney said.

Chip Lupo, an analyst at WalletHub, added in a statement, “There are plenty of small ways to manage stress, from staying active and pursuing hobbies to taking time off work and seeking help from a mental health professional.”

The analysis compared all 50 states across four key categories — work, money, family and health and safety — using 40 weighted metrics and data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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