Federation allocates emergency funds for synagogue security

JEWISH FEDERATION OF Greater MetroWest NJ’s Executive Committee voted to allocate $175,000 from the Emergency Reserves to cover up to eight hours a week of security services through June 30, 2019, at any Greater MetroWest synagogue.

“We’re offering this opportunity so that every Greater MetroWest synagogue can have access to professional security services if they want it,” said federation President Scott Krieger. “Each synagogue can decide how to use the eight hours of service. For some, it may be adding to existing security hours; for others it might be the first opportunity to have security services at their building.”

Through this pilot reimbursement program, synagogues choose the security providers as long as the service is delivered by active law enforcement officers or another security agency that meets required standards. Federation will reimburse the synagogue for up to eight hours of armed or unarmed security guard services per week through June 30.

“Our Jewish federation puts money in our emergency reserves exactly for circumstances like these,” said federation CEO Dov Ben-Shimon. “I am grateful to our leadership for recognizing the need to grant our synagogues short-term emergency funds for security. We will continue to work with our synagogues and other partners to explore long-term solutions to this new reality that forces us to be hyper-vigilant.”

Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

For information on this reimbursement program and federation’s Community Security Initiative, contact Chief Security Officer Robert Wilson at rwilson@jfedgmw.org or 973-929-2921.