The most recent round of Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grants, awarded earlier this year, included over $1.2 million for Jewish organizations, including preschools, synagogues, Jewish organizations, and Jewish day schools.
In all, 34 organizations in Greater Boston, the North Shore, and South Shore received federal and state grants to bolster security at their facilities.
That’s largely due to the efforts of CJP’s Communal Security Initiative (CSI), which receives support from CJP’s Center for Combating Antisemitism. CSI provided the support and resources to partners to access grants, including physical security assessments, funds to hire grant writers, webinars, consultations, and assistance before, during, and after applications are submitted and awarded.
“These grants provide essential funding for the kind of security updates and upgrades that ensure our Jewish communal institutions are both secure and welcoming,” said Jeremy Yamin, vice president of security and operations at CJP. “We’re proud to offer support before and during the grant-writing process, as well as helping grantees manage their security enhancements with information about creating plans and hiring the right contractors for the work.”
The grants come amid a sharp rise in hate crimes in Massachusetts, with 557 reported in 2023. Of those, hate crimes against Jews skyrocketed nearly 50%, with 119 targeting Jews or Jewish organizations in 2023, up from 71 the prior year.
For JCC Greater Boston, nearly $70,000 in grant money is being used to create stronger access control, reinforcing external structures, and upgrading video surveillance and emergency communication systems, according to Kait Rogers, the JCC’s chief financial and operations officer.
Rogers said CSI’s assistance in helping to get the grant came at the perfect time—amid a renovation to enhance the lobby and other gathering spaces. Making a space that was both safe and welcoming was the JCC’s goal, one that was aided with the grants.
“The safety and wellbeing of our community is our number one priority at all times,” Rogers said. “When the opportunity to take on this renovation became a reality, adding elements of upgraded building security made perfect sense.”
Learn more about security trainings, upcoming grant opportunities, and more at CSI’s website. And find out how CJP’s Center for Combating Antisemitism is the central hub for communal efforts to respond to antisemitism, including through CSI.
