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Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a significant move to bolster security at places of worship, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a substantial $400 million boost in federal funding. According to an Associated Press report, this announcement, made on Sunday in New York City, reflects a proactive effort to address the escalating threats faced by Jewish and Muslim communities, particularly in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
The increase in funds is earmarked for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, a federal initiative designed to help religious and nonprofit organizations fortify their facilities against potential attacks, as was reported by the AP. This year’s allocation represents a significant rise from the $305 million distributed last year, calling attention to the urgency and gravity of the current threat landscape.
The decision to augment the funding comes at a time when anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents are on the rise, a surge largely attributed to the fallout from the Israel-Gaza war that began in October. The AP reported that the Anti-Defamation League’s recent report highlights a troubling spike, noting that incidents of assault, vandalism, and harassment targeting Jews more than doubled last year, reaching a record high. This alarming trend underscores a dire need for enhanced protective measures at religious sites.
Places of worship, including synagogues and mosques, now have the opportunity to apply for funding to cover essential security measures such as hiring security personnel and installing surveillance cameras, as was indicated in the AP report.
Applicants seeking to secure a portion of this funding must submit their requests by May 21, emphasizing the need for swift action and readiness among communities at risk. Schumer’s commitment is clear: “We’re going to keep funding so that no synagogue or other religious institution is going to have to live in the fear that they now live with,” as was noted in the AP report.
This past Saturday in New York City, a chilling wave of bomb threats targeting at least three synagogues and a museum stirred anxieties within the Jewish community, though authorities later deemed these threats non-credible, the AP report added.
Governor Kathy Hochul took to social media platform X to express her stance on the issue, stating that state officials were “actively monitoring a number of bomb threats at synagogues in New York,” the AP reported. Hochul’s quick declaration that the threats had been found not credible did not mask her stern resolve against the perpetrators: “We will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & anti-Semitism. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.”
Similarly, Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine characterized the threats as a hate crime and linked them to a disturbing trend of ‘swatting’—the act of making hoax calls to bring about a large police presence at a location. Levine emphasized on X, “This is a clear effort to sow fear in the Jewish community. Cannot be accepted.”
The bomb threats against New York’s synagogues may have been hoaxes, but the fear they instilled was real. These incidents are a stark reminder of the challenges that the Jewish community continues to face. As New York’s officials and community leaders rally to secure and support those targeted, there is also a broader call to the public: t
