Bay Area Jewish Institutions Receive $825,000 in Federal Security Grants

Bay Area Jewish Institutions Receive $825,000 in Federal Security Grants

Multiple synagogues and Jewish institutions in Sacramento and the Bay Area have each received federal grants of as much as $150,000 for security.

Multiple synagogues and Jewish institutions in Sacramento and the Bay Area have each received federal grants of as much as $150,000 for security. The funds are allocated for training and security upgrades like alarms, blast-resistant doors and shatterproof glass.

The security grants are part of a Department of Homeland Security and FEMA program for potential targets of attack in large metropolitan areas. According to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, which administers the federal grants, the funding is available for any nonprofit considered to be “at high risk of terrorist attack” if its work or identity make it a target for hate. To apply for the federal grants, nonprofits have to assess their vulnerability and consider their access points, fences, traffic, lighting and intruder alarms.

The grants have become more relevant following last year’s deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

“It has been a warning of what could come if we don’t protect institutions that might be targeted,” said Marc Levine, a member of the state Assembly for the North Bay.

During the last fiscal year, all seven security grants issued in the Bay Area went to Jewish institutions, a funding total of more than $825,000. Congregation Beth Ami in Santa Rosa, the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, Peninsula Sinai Congregation in Foster City, Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, the Brandeis School of San Francisco and El Cerrito’s Tehiyah Day School each received between $67,000 and $150,000. Three Jewish institutions in the Sacramento area received a total of $390,000 in funding.

The SIlicon Valley Federation used its grant funding to add barrier posts, protective window film and security cameras, director of development Marci Gordon said.

The Jewish community is always aware of security needs, but the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting heightened security concerns, according to Gordon.

“Obviously, post-Pittsburgh everybody was very concerned about what that could potentially mean for us,” Gordon said.

The Jewish Federation of the East Bay is working to set up local security grants to supplement the federal funding. The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley has provided funding for six local Jewish organizations so they could conduct detailed security analyses to assess their vulnerabilities.

“We made an offer to all of the synagogues and Jewish organizational campuses, and six of them took us up on it,” Gordon said.

The Pittsburgh shooting, which left 11 congregants dead, is one of the deadliest attacks on Jewish people in U.S. history. Synagogues and Jewish institutions immediately worked to boost their security, with measures including armed guards and off-duty police on patrol.

“Unfortunately, it’s just a challenging time to be doing this kind of work,” Glass said, “so we’re trying to stay on top of it.”

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities