Transcript [00:00] Hi, I'm Jessica Burnton, director [00:01] [music] of congressional affairs at AJC. [00:04] Right now, Jewish communities in the [00:06] United States are facing a reality that [00:08] no one should have to accept. [music] We [00:10] need security to gather, to worship, and [00:12] to live openly as Jews. [music] AJC's [00:15] State of Antisemitism in America 2025 [00:17] report found that 91% of American Jews [00:21] say they feel [music] less safe as a [00:23] Jewish person in the United States due [00:26] to violent attacks [music] in the past [00:28] year, including the burning of a Jewish [00:30] governor's home, [00:32] the firebombing [music] of Jews in [00:34] Boulder, Colorado, and the murders at [00:37] the Capital Jewish Museum. [00:38] And more than half of American Jews say [00:41] [music] they change their behavior out [00:43] of fear of antisemitism in the past [00:45] year. That is what this moment looks [00:47] like. [00:48] >> [music] [00:48] >> It's synagogues hiring guards. It's [00:51] schools installing security systems. [00:53] It's community centers preparing [music] [00:55] not just for programs, but for threats. [00:58] No American should need a security [00:59] [music] perimeter to pray, but that's [01:02] the reality. And that is why the new [01:04] Jewish American Security [music] Act is [01:06] so important. Section 5 of this bill [01:08] enhances the nonprofit security grant [01:11] program, which helps [music] at-risk [01:13] nonprofits, like synagogues, schools, [01:16] and community centers [01:17] >> [music] [01:18] >> pay for the security measures they need [01:20] to stay safe. [01:21] That includes things like hiring trained [01:24] security [music] personnel, installing [01:26] cameras and access controls, [01:28] strengthening doors and entryways, [01:30] [music] [01:31] and improving emergency preparedness. [01:33] In other words, it helps communities put [01:36] real, visible protections in place [01:38] [music] to prevent attacks before they [01:40] happen. It also provides additional [01:43] support for applicants. It broadens [01:45] eligible uses to provide a greater range [01:48] of security needs, [01:50] >> [music] [01:50] >> and brings greater transparency and [01:52] oversight to the program. This [music] [01:54] is about prevention. It's about making [01:57] sure that communities can come [music] [01:59] together safely. The Jewish American [02:01] Security Act builds on this, recognizing [02:04] that security is not optional. It's [02:06] foundational. Because without physical [02:08] safety, nothing else is possible. [02:10] [music] [02:11] Not community life, not engagement, not [02:14] education. And ultimately, this is about [02:16] more than one community. [music] It's [02:18] about whether every American can live [02:21] and practice their faith freely and [02:24] without [music] fear. If you are [02:25] watching and wondering how you can help, [02:27] please share this video with family and [02:29] [music] friends who might be interested [02:31] in AJC's work to protect Jewish [02:34] communities. [music] And please also [02:36] reach out to senators and members of [02:38] Congress [02:39] >> [music] [02:39] >> and encourage them to support the Jewish [02:41] American Security Act.
Effective policy protects every community.
Jessica Bernton, Director of Congressional Affairs at American Jewish Committee (AJC), explains how the bipartisan Jewish American Security Act (JASA) would strengthen security for houses of worship, community centers, and schools across the country by expanding vital Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding.
As antisemitic threats and hate crimes continue to put communities at risk, strengthening security funding can help ensure that people can worship, learn, and gather safely.
Take Action: Urge Congress to support JASA today: AJC.org/ActAgainstAntisemitism
