‘Beefing Up Security’

The following is an article that I wrote, which appeared in the September 12, 2024, edition of the Washington Jewish Week:

As antisemitism continues to rise at a frightening pace across the United States and Jewish community institutions, including synagogues and schools, take proactive steps to protect themselves and keep their congregants, students and staff safe, vigilance is indeed key. Yet enhanced security measures take more than just proper planning and training — it requires funding.

In this month’s installment of “Remember When,” we look back at our Aug. 12, 2004, issue. A story titled “Beefing up security” by Eric Fingerhut reported on funding opportunities for local synagogues in Maryland to enhance security measures.

According to the article, “Maryland is believed to be the first state providing money toward nonprofit organizations with security concerns.”

The Baltimore Jewish Council selected a local synagogue to receive a $30,000 grant, while Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School received $98,000.

JCCouncil of Greater Washington Executive Director Ron Halber played a pivotal role in overseeing and coordinating the application process for the security funds.

Referring to the process, Halber said that once applications were submitted by local synagogues, they would be reviewed by a “board of technical advisers with experience in terrorism and homeland security who will give us [the JCCouncil] an evaluation on which synagogues are highest at risk and which proposals will make the greatest impact.”

The article noted that, “With many in the Jewish community traditionally opposed to government funding of religion, JCCouncil leaders were initially somewhat wary of directing government funds to synagogues.” The JCCouncil ultimately received legal guidance from Marc Stern, general counsel for the American Jewish Congress, who opined that the funding was permissible from a constitutional law standpoint.

Stern noted that the funding had nothing to do with furthering a Jewish institution’s religious mission; rather, it was being allocated to protect the community from the “threat to life and property” that a terrorist attack presents.

Twenty years later, the issue of securing adequate funding to safeguard synagogues and schools is still extremely relevant.

JTA.org recently reported that the Department of Homeland Security allocated $454.5 million this fiscal year toward the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides funding for security improvements at houses of worship and religious organizations. That figure represents a nearly $150 million increase over last year’s allocation and is the largest amount ever allocated toward the program.

The increased funding takes into account the current post-Oct. 7 landscape and rising antisemitism across the country and provides Jewish community institutions with the opportunity to apply for much-needed funds to augment their existing security measures.

And twenty years after the Washington Jewish Week story appeared, Ron Halber is still deeply involved in the issue of securing government funding for synagogues and schools in his capacity as CEO of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington and as a tireless advocate for the DMV Jewish community.