(JTA) — Six major Jewish organizations that have pushed to expand federal funding for synagogue security are urging Jewish institutions to apply again for the grants despite any concerns about the Trump administration and its terms for grantees.
In an unusual joint statement, the six groups said Tuesday they are confident that receiving funds from the Nonprofit Security Grant Program will not require any entity to compromise its religious values.
The statement was issued by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Anti-Defamation League and three groups that focus solely on Jewish security: the Secure Community Network, Community Security Initiative NY and Community Security Service.
The statement does not name any specific concerns but comes shortly after about 50 synagogues and Jewish groups— including Piedmont’s Kehilla Community Synagogue and Berkeley’s Beyt Tikkun — said they will not apply for the grants because of terms requiring grantees to support federal immigration enforcement at a time when the Trump administration is mounting a major campaign against immigrants.
The six major Jewish organizations are seeking to reassure congregations and groups.
“While we are aware that questions have arisen on the part of certain religious institutions regarding the current year’s program criteria, our organizations strongly urge all eligible institutions to apply for this critical resource,” the major organizations said in their statement. “We are in regular contact with government officials who have affirmed their continued commitment to protecting the safety of all faith-based institutions and the values they hold.”
JFNA in particular was a leading force in building the grant program, which is run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Department of Homeland Security.
Created in 2004 and expanded after the Tree of Life synagogue massacre in 2018, the grant program is the main federal source of money for houses of worship and nonprofits to bolster protection against terrorism and hate-motivated violence. Intensifying concerns about antisemitic attacks have sharply increased demand for the grants, for which Jewish groups have also encouraged other houses of worship to apply. This year, $274 million is on the table.
Separately, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs last week wrote to the Trump administration asking for clarity about what is required of faith institutions receiving security funds. But the group likewise urged synagogues and Jewish institutions to still apply for the grants, noting that applying does not commit an organization to accepting any funding.