Security Spending by American Jewish Institutions Tops $1 Billion, Study Finds

Security spending by Jewish communal institutions in North America has passed $1 billion a year, reaching a record $1.015 billion as the High Holidays approach. New data from the Jewish Federations of North America puts average spending at roughly $225,000 for each of more than 4,500 institutions.

The institutions covered include Jewish community centers, synagogues, schools, summer camps and other Jewish nonprofit organizations. Their spending has risen 33% from the previous estimate of $765 million in 2024. The analysis does not include privately owned businesses such as kosher restaurants, kosher markets, Judaica shops or Jewish bookstores.

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The fact that Jewish communal spending has shot up 33% is a measure of how much more dangerous life has become for Jewish Americans, and sadly we know that we need even more investment to protect ourselves against the rising level of threat.

Security personnel, including guards and security directors, account for the largest share of the costs. Eric D. Fingerhut, president and chief executive of JFNA, said the increase reflected worsening dangers for Jewish Americans and argued that the community needed greater investment to protect itself.

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Passing the Jewish American Security Act and fully funding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $1 billion is the single most important step lawmakers can take to keep Jewish Americans and all faith communities safe.

JFNA is calling for passage of the Jewish American Security Act, which would fully fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $1 billion. Fingerhut said the resources available have not kept pace with demand. He also warned that money spent on guards and cameras cannot be spent on Jewish education, elder care or support for people in need.

JFNA estimates that current security spending could otherwise send 44,000 children to Jewish day school, cover every child attending Jewish summer camp, or fund every Birthright trip for a decade.

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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.