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As Jewish families across America observe Passover, they do so amidst a growing climate of concern about safety and security. Rising tensions linked to conflicts involving Iran, along with increasing attacks on Jewish individuals and institutions, have heightened awareness of potential threats.
In cities from Miami to New York, authorities are actively addressing what they describe as a persistent and changing threat landscape. During a security strategy briefing held before Passover at the New York Police Department, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed Jewish community leaders, stating, “It is clear that we will be in a heightened state of alert for the foreseeable future.” This caution highlights the disparity between the threats facing Jewish communities and the federal resources allocated for their protection, as noted by policymakers and security analysts.
Despite these security concerns, the funding allocated to protect religious venues in the U.S. remains insufficient, according to experts, particularly as antisemitic incidents continue to climb.
In the aftermath of an attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, where an assailant crashed into the building on Thursday, March 12, 2026, the community is left grappling with the incident.
Data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicates that anti-Jewish hate crimes have consistently represented the largest portion of religion-based hate crimes in the United States in recent years.
The gap between risk and resources has become a central concern for those working directly with affected communities. Scott Feltman, Preventative Security Analyst and Executive Vice President at One Israel Fund, said no religious group should have to choose between remaining open and ensuring safety.
“No one should feel unsafe walking into a synagogue, church, mosque or temple in New Jersey or anywhere in America,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N., told Fox News Digital, who in recent weeks has been advocating for an increase in federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funding to $1 billion in fiscal year 2027, a proposal currently under consideration in Congress.
Recent attacks underscore the urgency. In Michigan, a man rammed a vehicle into a synagogue in West Bloomfield and opened fire while more than 100 preschool children were inside. In California, two Jewish men speaking Hebrew were reportedly assaulted in a restaurant while the attacker shouted antisemitic slurs.
Jesse Arm, Manhattan Institute vice president for external affairs, told Fox News Digital, “What the latest attempted massacre made clear — when an Islamist from Dearborn via Lebanon tried to ram an explosive-laden truck into a synagogue preschool in my hometown of West Bloomfield, Michigan — is that security works. The presence of trained, armed guards helped save the lives of 140 American children and their caretakers.
“But the broader lesson for the Jewish community is that safety cannot be outsourced entirely to the federal government or to any administration. It requires a cultural shift: normalizing lawful firearm ownership and training, hardening facilities at every level, and investing in the day schools, camps and identity-forming institutions that build communities confident and rooted enough to defend themselves.”
Arm had praise for the administration in its fight against antisemitism: “President Trump has been a godsend for American Jewry. His administration has been unambiguous in its commitment to Jewish safety — naming antisemitism as a serious national security threat, taking a hard line on campus radicalism and prioritizing the kind of border security and counter-jihadist vigilance that the previous administration routinely soft-pedaled. American Jews should recognize that and be immensely grateful for it.”
Leo Terrell, chairman of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Antisemitism speaks during a reception for Black History Month in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 20, 2026. (Pool via AP)
The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program, administered by FEMA, currently allows at-risk institutions to apply for up to $200,000 per location. In practice, however, many organizations receive less than that amount, often after delays that can stretch one to three years, and demand for the program has exceeded available funding in recent years, with applications far outpacing the number of grants awarded, according to federal data.
Security experts add that the delay between identifying a threat and receiving funding can leave institutions without the protections recommended by security professionals during periods of heightened risk.
Antisemitic graffiti defaces Israeli-American Council HQ (The Israeli-American Council (IAC) national headquarters in Los Angeles)
To address those gaps, experts recommend layered security measures including trained personnel, reinforced entry points, surveillance systems, controlled access and emergency response training, which they estimate require between $400,000 and $500,000 in funding per location, roughly double the current federal cap. Security experts say both the funding level and the timeline for distribution have become central concerns as incidents continue to rise.
Steven Ingber, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit, said much of the financial burden for security continues to fall on the Jewish community itself rather than being fully addressed through government support.
As that debate continues, officials are urging institutions to remain vigilant and maintain close coordination with local law enforcement, particularly during periods of increased tension tied to global events.
Fox News Digital reached out to FEMA for comment but did not receive a response.