By: Fern Sidman

In response to an alarming surge in antisemitic violence across the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday a sweeping security initiative that will distribute more than $94 million to over 500 Jewish faith-based organizations. The move, widely praised by communal leaders, marks a critical moment in the nation’s efforts to confront domestic extremism and safeguard vulnerable minority communities.

As reported on Tuesday in The Algemeiner, the funding—totaling $94,416,838—will be administered through a National Security Supplemental to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The decision, DHS officials confirmed, was catalyzed by a series of violent and fatal attacks in recent months, as well as a dramatic, five-year rise in antisemitic incidents documented by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Among the most high-profile recent incidents was the June 1 assault in Boulder, Colorado, where a Jewish solidarity event was targeted by Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower. The attack left multiple people injured and ultimately claimed the life of 82-year-old Karen Diamond, a Holocaust survivor. The Algemeiner report noted that the incident shook Jewish communities across the country and was widely cited by lawmakers and DHS officials in justifying the enhanced security grants.

Diamond’s death—initially treated as an attempted homicide—led prosecutors to file an upgraded charge of first-degree murder against 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national in the U.S. illegally. Authorities allege that Soliman, who reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack, told investigators he intended to kill up to 20 people. His defense attorney has claimed that the act was motivated by “anti-Zionism” rather than antisemitism, a distinction critics argue dangerously obscures hate-driven intent.

The case, as The Algemeiner report observed, has become a focal point in debates surrounding hate crimes prosecution, immigration enforcement, and the limits of political protest.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the funding “a tragic necessity,” acknowledging that such grants should not be required in a democratic society. “Antisemitic violence has no place in this country,” McLaughlin stated in a press release. “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.”

The announcement followed closely on the heels of a powerful show of unity in Washington, D.C., where nearly 400 representatives from more than 100 Jewish organizations joined forces to advocate for stronger federal protections. The event, organized by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, drew attention to the deepening urgency felt within Jewish communities.

“Jewish safety in America is not optional,” said William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents, in remarks highlighted in The Algemeiner report. “The silence in the face of antisemitic incitement—whether it comes from Iran’s ayatollahs or American campuses—is unacceptable.”

The $94 million allocation, according to FEMA, will assist synagogues, day schools, community centers, and other nonprofit Jewish institutions in hardening their physical defenses. Eligible expenses include surveillance systems, reinforced entrances, alarm systems, and security personnel. In addition, institutions will receive guidance on best practices for emergency preparedness and active threat response.

“This money will be used to help these organizations harden their defenses against attacks,” DHS stated. The Algemeiner report emphasized that Jewish institutions have disproportionately borne the brunt of religiously motivated attacks in recent years, making them a key focus of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

Critically, all faith-based institutions—not only Jewish ones—remain eligible for this grant program. However, in light of the dramatic spike in antisemitic incidents—up 344% since 2019, according to ADL figures—the latest funding round will prioritize Jewish applicants.

In one of the most emotional appeals during the D.C. advocacy event, Bob Milgrim, father of slain Israeli Embassy employee Sarah Milgrim, spoke to the devastating loss his family endured when she and colleague Yaron Lischinsky were gunned down at a Jewish cultural gathering in Washington on May 21. “Had there been more security at the event… perhaps the shooter could have been identified and disarmed,” he said.

Their accused killer, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, reportedly shouted “Free, free Palestine” as he opened fire. He faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder.

“We know there are many things on the nation’s agenda,” said Eric Fingerhut, CEO of JFNA, “but we must insist that the safety and security of the Jewish community and the battle against domestic terror be at the very top.”

The debate over how to classify anti-Zionist violence continues to complicate legal proceedings, as seen in the Soliman case in Colorado. While his defense counsel insists that the attack was politically motivated, federal prosecutors are examining whether the act meets the statutory definition of a hate crime.

The Algemeiner reported that the issue of prosecutorial framing is not merely semantic—it holds the potential to shape federal policy and determine how perpetrators of antisemitic violence are punished.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty, speaking after Karen Diamond’s death, promised that “our office will fight for justice for the victims, their loved ones, and the community. What makes Colorado special is that people come together in response to a tragedy.” His remarks echoed the mood of a shaken but resilient Jewish community determined not to cede public space to fear or hatred.

The DHS funding announcement is seen as both a validation of long-standing Jewish advocacy and an acknowledgment of the chilling trend of antisemitic violence on American soil. As The Algemeiner report noted, Jewish institutions are adapting to an increasingly hostile security environment with a blend of vigilance, legal activism, and public education.

Rabbi Marc Soloway of Congregation Bonai Shalom in Boulder, where Diamond was a long-time member, captured the emotional resonance of the moment: “This event and the tragic loss of someone who has given so much of herself over the years to the Bonai community and beyond has impacted us all.”

For now, the infusion of federal funds offers both a practical measure of protection and a symbolic gesture of solidarity. But as community leaders and elected officials warn, the battle to secure Jewish safety in America is far from over. As William Daroff succinctly put it, “We must remain vigilant. The cost of inaction is far too great.”