As Jewish families across the United States celebrate Passover, a growing threat is shaping the way communities approach the holiday and beyond. Tensions related to the war with Iran and attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions have raised concerns about the safety of the community.
From Miami to New York, officials are responding to what they describe as an ongoing and evolving threat landscape. During a pre-Passover security strategy briefing at the NYPD, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told Jewish community leaders, “It is clear that we will be on a heightened state of alert for the foreseeable future,” a warning that comes as policymakers and security experts point to a widening gap between the level of threat facing Jewish communities and the federal resources available to protect them.
Despite security fears, funding for houses of worship in the United States remains below what experts say is needed to address the current threat, even as anti-Semitic incidents continue to rise.
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Aftermath of the attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan. On Thursday, March 12, 2026, an attacker rammed into the building. (Temple Israel)
According to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, anti-Jewish hate crimes have consistently accounted for the largest share of faith-based crime incidents 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 staying open and ensuring security.
Recent attacks underline the urgency. In Michigan, a man rammed a vehicle into a West Bloomfield synagogue and opened fire while more than a hundred toddlers were inside. In California, two Jewish men who spoke Hebrew were reportedly attacked in a restaurant, with the attacker shouting anti-Semitic slurs.
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“But the broader lesson for the Jewish community is that security cannot be completely outsourced to the federal government or any other government. It requires a cultural shift: normalizing the legal ownership and training of firearms, strengthening facilities at every level, and investing in day schools, camps and identity-building institutions that build communities that are confident and rooted enough to defend themselves.”
Arm praised the government in its fight against anti-Semitism: ‘President Trump has been a gift from heaven for American Jewry. His administration has been unequivocal in its commitment to Jewish security — identifying anti-Semitism as a serious threat to national security, taking a tough stance on campus radicalism, and prioritizing the kind of border security and anti-jihadist vigilance that the previous administration routinely weakened. American Jews should recognize that and be deeply 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 February 20, 2026. (Swimming pool via AP)
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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 of one to three years, and demand for the program has exceeded available funding in recent years, with applications far exceeding the number of grants awarded, federal data show.
Security experts add that the delay between identifying a threat and receiving funding can prevent institutions from receiving the protection recommended by security professionals during periods of heightened risk.
Anti-Semitic graffiti defaces the headquarters of the Israeli-American Council (The National Headquarters of the Israeli American Council (IAC) in Los Angeles)
To address these gaps, experts recommend layered security measures, including trained personnel, fortified access points, surveillance systems, controlled access and emergency response training, which they say will require between $400,000 and $500,000 in funding per location, about double the current federal cap. Security experts say both the level of funding and the timeline for distribution have become central concerns as the number of incidents continues to rise.
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Steven Ingber, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit, said much of the financial burden for security still falls on the Jewish community itself and is not fully addressed with government support.
As that debate continues, officials urge institutions to remain vigilant and maintain close coordination with local law enforcement agencies, especially during periods of heightened tension due to global events.
