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MoreQuiet 10d · day 16

Jewish communal security spending in U.S. tops $1 billion a year

JFNA says protecting synagogues, schools and camps now costs more than $1 billion annually, up 33% from 2024, as High Holidays begin.

newest coverage 10d agosummary written 12d ago12 pieces11 likes & upvotes NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • JFNA estimates Jewish institutions now spend over $1.015 billion a year on security, up 33% from $765 million in 2024, averaging about $225,000 per institution across 4,500+ synagogues, schools, camps and centers.
  • The estimate excludes privately owned Jewish businesses like kosher restaurants and Judaica shops, meaning true costs are likely higher.
  • JFNA frames the spending as a trade-off: the money could instead send 44,000 children to Jewish day school or fund a decade of Birthright trips.
  • The release coincides with Rosh Hashanah and the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, sharpening debate over federal funding through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

“Every dollar our community spends on guards and cameras is a dollar not spent on Jewish education, on caring for our elderly, on taking care of those in need.”

Eric D. Fingerhut, President and CEO, JFNA · Newsweek ↗ · Sep 7

Eric D. Fingerhut President and CEO, Jewish Federations of North America

Jewish communal security spending in U.S. tops $1 billion a year
Newsweek

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in 4h at Sep 12, 6 AM; 12 pieces over 16 days (5 articles · 7 posts) Sep 8, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 8, 6 PM — quietSep 8, 10 PM — quietSep 9, 2 AM — quietSep 9, 6 AM — quietSep 9, 10 AM — quietSep 9, 2 PM — quietSep 9, 6 PM — quietSep 9, 10 PM — quietSep 10, 2 AM — quietSep 10, 6 AM — quietSep 10, 10 AM — quietSep 10, 2 PM — quietSep 10, 6 PM — quietSep 10, 10 PM — quietSep 11, 2 AM — quietSep 11, 6 AM — quietSep 11, 10 AM — quietSep 11, 2 PM — quietSep 11, 6 PM — quietSep 11, 10 PM — quietSep 12, 2 AM — quietSep 12, 6 AM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Mastodon 3, Newswires 1Sep 12, 10 AM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, Mastodon 1Sep 12, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 12, 6 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 12, 10 PM — quietSep 13, 2 AM — quietSep 13, 6 AM — quietSep 13, 10 AM — quietSep 13, 2 PM — quietSep 13, 6 PM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Mastodon 2Sep 13, 10 PM — quietSep 14, 2 AM — quietSep 14, 6 AM — quietSep 14, 10 AM — quietSep 14, 2 PM — quietSep 14, 6 PM — quietSep 14, 10 PM — quietSep 15, 2 AM — quietSep 15, 6 AM — quietSep 15, 10 AM — quietSep 15, 2 PM — quietSep 15, 6 PM — quietSep 15, 10 PM — quietSep 16, 2 AM — quietSep 16, 6 AM — quietSep 16, 10 AM — quietSep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 6 PM — quietSep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 6 AM — quietSep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 6 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 6 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quiet 12–3
Sep 10Sep 12Sep 14Sep 16Sep 18Sep 20Sep 22now · 7:49 AM ET
  1. 3

    Social accounts amplify the $1 billion security figure

    Mastodon accounts shared and re-shared the Axios report on Jewish institutions' security spending surpassing $1 billion.

    • realTuckFrumper@mastodon.social

      All The Winners At The Venice Film Festival 2026 # VanityFair

      realTuckFrumper@mastodon.socialMastodon11d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 2

    Axios reports security spending crossing $1 billion threshold

    Axios reported that antisemitic threats have pushed nationwide costs of protecting Jewish synagogues, schools and community centers past $1 billion a year as congregations prepare for High Holy Days crowds.

    1. 2 outlets Jewish Security Spending Tops $1 Billion as Holidays Begin

      first by NewsMax.com, 11d ago · also Axios

      1 more headline
    2. 1 outlet Jewish institutions' security spending tops $1 billion as antisemitism persists

      first by Axios, 12d ago

  3. background

    Rosh Hashanah begins alongside 25th anniversary of 9/11 — High Holidays began at sundown, drawing the largest annual synagogue attendance, on a date that also marks the quarter-century anniversary of the September 11 attacks, intensifying the security debate.

  4. 3 days quiet
  5. 1

    Newsweek frames spending as a 'tax' on Jewish life

    Newsweek's article characterizes the security costs as an unlegislated tax on practicing Judaism in America, diverting funds from education, elder care and social services into guards and building hardening.

    “Simply put, it's a tax to be a practicing Jew in the U.S.”
    — Newsweek
    1. 1 outlet The Billion-Dollar Security Tax on Jewish Life in America

      first by Newsweek, 15d ago

  6. background

    JFNA reports Jewish security spending exceeds $1 billion — The Jewish Federations of North America said communal security spending reached $1.015 billion a year, up 33% from a 2024 estimate of $765 million, averaging roughly $225,000 across more than 4,500 institutions.