American Jewish community security spending surpasses $1 billion, new data shows

Jewish communal security spending surpassed the $1 billion mark in 2025, reaching $1.015 billion, according to new data from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). The study, which analyzed over 4,500 Jewish communal institutions, revealed that the average expenditure stood at approximately $225,000 per institution. This marks a 33% increase from the previous estimate of $765 million in 2024.

Included in these institutions are Jewish community centers, synagogues, schools, summer camps, and other nonprofit Jewish organizations.

However, JFNA's analysis did not encompass privately owned businesses like the numerous kosher restaurants, markets, groceries, and shops, as well as Judaica stores and bookstores found in Jewish neighborhoods across North America.

The majority of this security spending is allocated to security personnel, including guards and security directors. This comes amid calls for the urgent passage of the Jewish American Security Act, aimed at fully funding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) at a total of $1 billion.

Eric D. Fingerhut, President and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America, emphasized the rising dangers faced by Jewish Americans. He stated, "The 33% increase in communal security spending reflects how much more dangerous life has become for Jewish Americans, and we need even more investment to protect ourselves against the increasing threat."

Fingerhut further noted that the current security spending would be enough to fund 44,000 kids' education at Jewish Day Schools, cover the costs of every child in Jewish summer camp, or support every Birthright Trip for a decade. "Every dollar our community spends on guards and cameras is a dollar not spent on Jewish education, on caring for our elderly, and on providing aid to those in need," he added.