Latest news with #NonprofitSecurityGrantProgram
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
$94 million in grants awarded to Jewish faith-based organizations to prevent ‘violence and terrorism': DHS
FIRST ON FOX: Secretary Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a staggering $94.4 million in federal grants through the National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS) to 512 Jewish faith-based organizations on Friday. The grants, which are allocated through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, are part of a pre-designated fund to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under DHS with the purpose of providing "support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements." "DHS is working to put a stop to the deeply disturbing rise in anti-Semitic attacks across the United States," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. "That this money is necessary at all is tragic. Anti-Semitic violence has no place in this country." "However, under President Trump and Secretary Noem's leadership, we are going to do everything in our power to make sure that Jewish people in the United States can live free of the threat of violence and terrorism." Sources at DHS tell Fox News Digital that similar grants have been used for improved security measures like cameras, physical barriers, and other enhanced safety initiatives. Anti-Semitic attacks in the US have been on the rise since Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the continuous war between the Jewish state and neighboring countries. American college campuses, including Columbia and NYU, have erupted with Israel and Palestine protests since 2023. Two Israeli embassy staffers were murdered in Washington, D.C., in May and a group of pro-Israel demonstrators were "targeted" with Molotov cocktails in Boulder, Colorado just this month. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that 2024 marked a record high 9,354 anti-Semitic incidents, which is an increase of 344% over the past five years. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program website states that all faith-based organizations must first apply through the Department of Homeland Security to receive funding, and sources at DHS also tell Fox News Digital that these are just the first of many grants to be sent. The Trump administration has firmly backed Israel throughout tensions in the Middle East, and recently negotiated a ceasefire between the Jewish homeland and Iran, mitigated by Qatar, on Tuesday. Though conflict and hostility are still high among Israel and neighboring countries, the Trump administration has touted a win for peace abroad, while antisemitism still remains on the rise at home. Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News Digital covering breaking news. Story tips can be sent to and on X @MizellPreston
San Francisco Chronicle
04-06-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
2 more attacks on Jews heighten concerns about security in and around US synagogues
For the leaders of U.S. Jewish institutions, the recent attacks in Boulder, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., are stark reminders of their responsibility to remain vigilant despite years of hardening their security measures and trying to keep their people safe. Now, they're sounding the alarm for more help after a dozen people were injured in Boulder while demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza on Sunday. And just over a week earlier, two Israeli Embassy staffers were fatally shot outside a Jewish museum in Washington. After that shooting, 43 Jewish organizations issued a joint statement requesting more support from the U.S. government for enhanced security measures. Specifically, they asked Congress to increase funding to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion. 'Every Jewish organization has been serious about security for years. We have to be,' said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. 'The grants are to harden the buildings, for things like cameras and glass, and some kind of blockage so they can't drive a truck into the building." 'These are the everyday realities of Jewish life in the 21st century in America. It's a sad reality, but it is an essential responsibility of leadership to make sure that people are first and foremost safe.' Shira Hutt, executive vice president at The Jewish Federations of North America, said existing federal funds were inadequate, with only 43% of last year's applicants to the grant program receiving funding. Citing the attack in Boulder, she said increased funding for local law enforcement is also crucial. 'Thankfully, the attack was stopped before even further damage could have been done,' she said. 'This is really now a full-blown crisis, and we need to make sure that we have all the support necessary." One of the Jewish Federation's state-based affiliates, JEWISHcolorado, on Tuesday launched an emergency fund to raise $160,000 in support of the Boulder community. Its goals include enhancing safety and security measures for Jewish institutions and events. Strengthening alliances and pushing for results Leaders of Jewish Federation Los Angeles urged government, business and philanthropic groups to 'supercharge an alliance so we can build mutual understanding, dispel conspiracy theories, and provide rapid response when any group is under threat.' 'Jews here in Los Angeles are terrified but determined,' said the federation's president, Rabbi Noah Farkas. 'We do not need more community meetings, we need results and we are counting on our local government and our law enforcement partners to do more.' The security costs at 63 Jewish day schools have risen on average 84% since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct, 7, 2023, according to the Teach Coalition, the education advocacy arm of the Orthodox Union, an umbrella group for Orthodox Judaism. The coalition is advocating for more state and federal security funding for Jewish schools and camps, as well as synagogues. The attacks in Washington and Boulder only heighten the urgency, said its national director Sydney Altfield. 'Some people see this as an isolated instance, whether it is in Colorado, whether it's in D.C.,' she said. 'But we have to step up and realize that it could happen anywhere. … It is so important that our most vulnerable, our children, are secure to the highest extent.' In Florida, Rabbi Jason Rosenberg of Congregation Beth Am said members of the Reform synagogue in the Tampa Bay area 'are feeling very nervous right now and having some additional security might make people a little bit more comfortable.' He said that 'there's a definite sense that these attacks are not isolated events, that these attacks are, in part, the result of a lot of the antisemitic rhetoric that we've been hearing in society for years now.' However, he said part of his message as a faith leader in such a climate has been to encourage resilience. 'We can't let this define us. … We can't stop doing what we do; we can't stop coming to synagogue; we can't stop having our activities,' he said. 'Our job is to add holiness to our lives and to the world, and we can't let this stop us from focusing on sacred work.' Security concerns inside and outside Jacobs, the Reform Judaism leader, said the latest attacks in Washington and Boulder signaled that new security strategies were needed. 'Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were murdered outside of the event at the D.C. Jewish Museum,' he said. 'And that presented a whole additional sort of challenges for law enforcement and for each of our institutions doing security, which is: you can't just worry about who comes in; you actually have to worry about who's lurking outside, and so, that is part now of our protocols." The attack in Boulder, he said, took place during a 'peaceful protest' where demonstrators were calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. 'We have to worry about what happens inside our institutions. … We also have to be thinking and working with law enforcement about what happens outside.' Jacobs recalled that when a Christian leader recently visited a Reform synagogue, he was 'stunned by the security protocols,' which included procedures that Jacobs likened to passengers passing through airport security. 'I said, 'Well, what do you do in your churches?' and he said, 'Well, we like to be welcoming.' And I said: 'We don't have that luxury. We want to make sure our people feel safe, otherwise people will stop coming.'" ___
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2 more attacks on Jews heighten concerns about security in and around US synagogues
For the leaders of U.S. Jewish institutions, the recent attacks in Boulder, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., are stark reminders of their responsibility to remain vigilant despite years of hardening their security measures and trying to keep their people safe. Now, they're sounding the alarm for more help after a dozen people were injured in Boulder while demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza on Sunday. And just over a week earlier, two Israeli Embassy staffers were fatally shot outside a Jewish museum in Washington. After that shooting, 43 Jewish organizations issued a joint statement requesting more support from the U.S. government for enhanced security measures. Specifically, they asked Congress to increase funding to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion. 'Every Jewish organization has been serious about security for years. We have to be,' said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. 'The grants are to harden the buildings, for things like cameras and glass, and some kind of blockage so they can't drive a truck into the building." 'These are the everyday realities of Jewish life in the 21st century in America. It's a sad reality, but it is an essential responsibility of leadership to make sure that people are first and foremost safe.' Shira Hutt, executive vice president at The Jewish Federations of North America, said existing federal funds were inadequate, with only 43% of last year's applicants to the grant program receiving funding. Citing the attack in Boulder, she said increased funding for local law enforcement is also crucial. 'Thankfully, the attack was stopped before even further damage could have been done,' she said. 'This is really now a full-blown crisis, and we need to make sure that we have all the support necessary." One of the Jewish Federation's state-based affiliates, JEWISHcolorado, on Tuesday launched an emergency fund to raise $160,000 in support of the Boulder community. Its goals include enhancing safety and security measures for Jewish institutions and events. Strengthening alliances and pushing for results Leaders of Jewish Federation Los Angeles urged government, business and philanthropic groups to 'supercharge an alliance so we can build mutual understanding, dispel conspiracy theories, and provide rapid response when any group is under threat.' 'Jews here in Los Angeles are terrified but determined,' said the federation's president, Rabbi Noah Farkas. 'We do not need more community meetings, we need results and we are counting on our local government and our law enforcement partners to do more.' The security costs at 63 Jewish day schools have risen on average 84% since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct, 7, 2023, according to the Teach Coalition, the education advocacy arm of the Orthodox Union, an umbrella group for Orthodox Judaism. The coalition is advocating for more state and federal security funding for Jewish schools and camps, as well as synagogues. The attacks in Washington and Boulder only heighten the urgency, said its national director Sydney Altfield. 'Some people see this as an isolated instance, whether it is in Colorado, whether it's in D.C.,' she said. 'But we have to step up and realize that it could happen anywhere. … It is so important that our most vulnerable, our children, are secure to the highest extent.' In Florida, Rabbi Jason Rosenberg of Congregation Beth Am said members of the Reform synagogue in the Tampa Bay area 'are feeling very nervous right now and having some additional security might make people a little bit more comfortable.' He said that 'there's a definite sense that these attacks are not isolated events, that these attacks are, in part, the result of a lot of the antisemitic rhetoric that we've been hearing in society for years now.' However, he said part of his message as a faith leader in such a climate has been to encourage resilience. 'We can't let this define us. … We can't stop doing what we do; we can't stop coming to synagogue; we can't stop having our activities,' he said. 'Our job is to add holiness to our lives and to the world, and we can't let this stop us from focusing on sacred work.' Security concerns inside and outside Jacobs, the Reform Judaism leader, said the latest attacks in Washington and Boulder signaled that new security strategies were needed. 'Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were murdered outside of the event at the D.C. Jewish Museum,' he said. 'And that presented a whole additional sort of challenges for law enforcement and for each of our institutions doing security, which is: you can't just worry about who comes in; you actually have to worry about who's lurking outside, and so, that is part now of our protocols." The attack in Boulder, he said, took place during a 'peaceful protest' where demonstrators were calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. 'We have to worry about what happens inside our institutions. … We also have to be thinking and working with law enforcement about what happens outside.' Jacobs recalled that when a Christian leader recently visited a Reform synagogue, he was 'stunned by the security protocols,' which included procedures that Jacobs likened to passengers passing through airport security. 'I said, 'Well, what do you do in your churches?' and he said, 'Well, we like to be welcoming.' And I said: 'We don't have that luxury. We want to make sure our people feel safe, otherwise people will stop coming.'" ___ Associated Press reporter Tiffany Stanley contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Hamilton Spectator
04-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
2 more attacks on Jews heighten concerns about security in and around US synagogues
For the leaders of U.S. Jewish institutions, the recent attacks in Boulder, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., are stark reminders of their responsibility to remain vigilant despite years of hardening their security measures and trying to keep their people safe. Now, they're sounding the alarm for more help after a dozen people were injured in Boulder while demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza on Sunday. And just over a week earlier, two Israeli Embassy staffers were fatally shot outside a Jewish museum in Washington. After that shooting, 43 Jewish organizations issued a joint statement requesting more support from the U.S. government for enhanced security measures. Specifically, they asked Congress to increase funding to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion. 'Every Jewish organization has been serious about security for years. We have to be,' said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. 'The grants are to harden the buildings, for things like cameras and glass, and some kind of blockage so they can't drive a truck into the building.' 'These are the everyday realities of Jewish life in the 21st century in America. It's a sad reality, but it is an essential responsibility of leadership to make sure that people are first and foremost safe.' Shira Hutt, executive vice president at The Jewish Federations of North America, said existing federal funds were inadequate, with only 43% of last year's applicants to the grant program receiving funding. Citing the attack in Boulder , she said increased funding for local law enforcement is also crucial. 'Thankfully, the attack was stopped before even further damage could have been done,' she said. 'This is really now a full-blown crisis, and we need to make sure that we have all the support necessary.' One of the Jewish Federation's state-based affiliates, JEWISHcolorado, on Tuesday launched an emergency fund to raise $160,000 in support of the Boulder community. Its goals include enhancing safety and security measures for Jewish institutions and events. Strengthening alliances and pushing for results Leaders of Jewish Federation Los Angeles urged government, business and philanthropic groups to 'supercharge an alliance so we can build mutual understanding, dispel conspiracy theories, and provide rapid response when any group is under threat.' 'Jews here in Los Angeles are terrified but determined,' said the federation's president, Rabbi Noah Farkas. 'We do not need more community meetings, we need results and we are counting on our local government and our law enforcement partners to do more.' The security costs at 63 Jewish day schools have risen on average 84% since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct, 7, 2023, according to the Teach Coalition, the education advocacy arm of the Orthodox Union, an umbrella group for Orthodox Judaism. The coalition is advocating for more state and federal security funding for Jewish schools and camps, as well as synagogues. The attacks in Washington and Boulder only heighten the urgency, said its national director Sydney Altfield. 'Some people see this as an isolated instance, whether it is in Colorado, whether it's in D.C.,' she said. 'But we have to step up and realize that it could happen anywhere. … It is so important that our most vulnerable, our children, are secure to the highest extent.' In Florida, Rabbi Jason Rosenberg of Congregation Beth Am said members of the Reform synagogue in the Tampa Bay area 'are feeling very nervous right now and having some additional security might make people a little bit more comfortable.' He said that 'there's a definite sense that these attacks are not isolated events, that these attacks are, in part, the result of a lot of the antisemitic rhetoric that we've been hearing in society for years now.' However, he said part of his message as a faith leader in such a climate has been to encourage resilience. 'We can't let this define us. … We can't stop doing what we do; we can't stop coming to synagogue; we can't stop having our activities,' he said. 'Our job is to add holiness to our lives and to the world, and we can't let this stop us from focusing on sacred work.' Security concerns inside and outside Jacobs, the Reform Judaism leader, said the latest attacks in Washington and Boulder signaled that new security strategies were needed. 'Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were murdered outside of the event at the D.C. Jewish Museum,' he said. 'And that presented a whole additional sort of challenges for law enforcement and for each of our institutions doing security, which is: you can't just worry about who comes in; you actually have to worry about who's lurking outside, and so, that is part now of our protocols.' The attack in Boulder, he said, took place during a 'peaceful protest' where demonstrators were calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. 'We have to worry about what happens inside our institutions. … We also have to be thinking and working with law enforcement about what happens outside.' Jacobs recalled that when a Christian leader recently visited a Reform synagogue, he was 'stunned by the security protocols,' which included procedures that Jacobs likened to passengers passing through airport security. 'I said, 'Well, what do you do in your churches?' and he said, 'Well, we like to be welcoming.' And I said: 'We don't have that luxury. We want to make sure our people feel safe, otherwise people will stop coming.'' ___ Associated Press reporter Tiffany Stanley contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
04-06-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
2 more attacks on Jews heighten concerns about security in and around US synagogues
For the leaders of U.S. Jewish institutions, the recent attacks in Boulder, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., are stark reminders of their responsibility to remain vigilant despite years of hardening their security measures and trying to keep their people safe. Now, they're sounding the alarm for more help after a dozen people were injured in Boulder while demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza on Sunday. And just over a week earlier, two Israeli Embassy staffers were fatally shot outside a Jewish museum in Washington. After that shooting, 43 Jewish organizations issued a joint statement requesting more support from the U.S. government for enhanced security measures. Specifically, they asked Congress to increase funding to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion. 'Every Jewish organization has been serious about security for years. We have to be,' said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. 'The grants are to harden the buildings, for things like cameras and glass, and some kind of blockage so they can't drive a truck into the building.' 'These are the everyday realities of Jewish life in the 21st century in America. It's a sad reality, but it is an essential responsibility of leadership to make sure that people are first and foremost safe.' Shira Hutt, executive vice president at The Jewish Federations of North America, said existing federal funds were inadequate, with only 43% of last year's applicants to the grant program receiving funding. Citing the attack in Boulder, she said increased funding for local law enforcement is also crucial. 'Thankfully, the attack was stopped before even further damage could have been done,' she said. 'This is really now a full-blown crisis, and we need to make sure that we have all the support necessary.' One of the Jewish Federation's state-based affiliates, JEWISHcolorado, on Tuesday launched an emergency fund to raise $160,000 in support of the Boulder community. Its goals include enhancing safety and security measures for Jewish institutions and events. Strengthening alliances and pushing for results Leaders of Jewish Federation Los Angeles urged government, business and philanthropic groups to 'supercharge an alliance so we can build mutual understanding, dispel conspiracy theories, and provide rapid response when any group is under threat.' 'Jews here in Los Angeles are terrified but determined,' said the federation's president, Rabbi Noah Farkas. 'We do not need more community meetings, we need results and we are counting on our local government and our law enforcement partners to do more.' The security costs at 63 Jewish day schools have risen on average 84% since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct, 7, 2023, according to the Teach Coalition, the education advocacy arm of the Orthodox Union, an umbrella group for Orthodox Judaism. The coalition is advocating for more state and federal security funding for Jewish schools and camps, as well as synagogues. The attacks in Washington and Boulder only heighten the urgency, said its national director Sydney Altfield. 'Some people see this as an isolated instance, whether it is in Colorado, whether it's in D.C.,' she said. 'But we have to step up and realize that it could happen anywhere. … It is so important that our most vulnerable, our children, are secure to the highest extent.' In Florida, Rabbi Jason Rosenberg of Congregation Beth Am said members of the Reform synagogue in the Tampa Bay area 'are feeling very nervous right now and having some additional security might make people a little bit more comfortable.' He said that 'there's a definite sense that these attacks are not isolated events, that these attacks are, in part, the result of a lot of the antisemitic rhetoric that we've been hearing in society for years now.' However, he said part of his message as a faith leader in such a climate has been to encourage resilience. 'We can't let this define us. … We can't stop doing what we do; we can't stop coming to synagogue; we can't stop having our activities,' he said. 'Our job is to add holiness to our lives and to the world, and we can't let this stop us from focusing on sacred work.' Security concerns inside and outside Jacobs, the Reform Judaism leader, said the latest attacks in Washington and Boulder signaled that new security strategies were needed. 'Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were murdered outside of the event at the D.C. Jewish Museum,' he said. 'And that presented a whole additional sort of challenges for law enforcement and for each of our institutions doing security, which is: you can't just worry about who comes in; you actually have to worry about who's lurking outside, and so, that is part now of our protocols.' The attack in Boulder, he said, took place during a 'peaceful protest' where demonstrators were calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. 'We have to worry about what happens inside our institutions. … We also have to be thinking and working with law enforcement about what happens outside.' Jacobs recalled that when a Christian leader recently visited a Reform synagogue, he was 'stunned by the security protocols,' which included procedures that Jacobs likened to passengers passing through airport security. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. 'I said, 'Well, what do you do in your churches?' and he said, 'Well, we like to be welcoming.' And I said: 'We don't have that luxury. We want to make sure our people feel safe, otherwise people will stop coming.'' ___ Associated Press reporter Tiffany Stanley contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
