Security

There are resources, grants and direct funding allocations from state and local governments available to help protect synagogues and day schools in many states with large Jewish populations. Our Synagogue Regional Directors or Regional Teach Advocacy Directors can offer guidance. For more information, please email securityfunds@teachcoalition.org.

The application to apply for federal funding through the Non-Profit Security Grant program is available and please click here to access information.  The OU Security Center’s Homeland Security Grant Writing Assistance Program will make OU grants staff available to assist shuls in preparing and writing these grants from start to finish. If you are interested in utilizing this service, please click here and complete a short intake form.

The guidelines vary from state to state and we are here to help. For those in New York State, please click here for a summary of important steps you will need to take to apply for this grant. Whether you are in New York or other states, many of the steps are similar but we are happy to offer additional assistance through our program.

OU Advocacy has worked for many years on obtaining government grants for shuls and schools to enhance their security – primarily via the Dept. of Homeland Security’s “Nonprofit Security Grant Program.” In the coming weeks, OU Advocacy will be working with allies in Congress, the Administration and state and local leaders to advocate for more funds and resources to be allocated to the federal and state programs.

For those of you who are located in California, we wanted to bring your attention that the Orthodox Union’s state advocacy initiative – Teach CA – in conjunction with its coalition partners, has been advocating for significant security funding improvements in California. As a result, there is currently a bill, introduced by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, that directly addresses this issue. AB 1548 appropriates $15 million for the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CNSGP) to assist nonprofit organizations that are likely targets of hate-motivated violence.

Please make sure you are signed up to receive alerts about these initiatives. You can sign up at Advocacy.ou.org

 

Security Planning: 

There are many ways to make our institutions more difficult to attack.These documents contain security recommendations you can implement to “harden” your facility and better prepare its occupants.

Mental Health Support:

The impact of trauma affects many in the community. Mental health professional teams like OHEL’s Mobile Trauma Team and Project Chai, the Crisis Intervention and Trauma Support department of Chai Lifeline, has been providing direct consultation, phone conferencing and guideline materials for rabbis, parents, schools and synagogues. More information regarding these important programs can be accessed by calling:

CHAI Lifeline
1-855-3-CRISIS, crisis@chailifeline.org

OHEL
1-800-603-OHEL, trauma@ohelfamily.org