Keeping our Jewish community safe is one of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s highest priorities. As antisemitism continues to rise, protecting Jewish life requires more than physical security—it requires trusted partnerships, coordinated planning, and a community-wide approach.

Through JShield, Federation’s community security initiative, we work every day to strengthen the safety and resilience of Jewish organizations across Greater Washington. By building strong relationships with local, state, and federal government agencies as well as law enforcement, we help secure the resources, expertise, and public investment our community needs to meet today’s evolving security challenges.

We’re grateful to share that this work recently received an important investment from the State of Maryland. Federation has been awarded nearly $180,000 through Maryland’s Protecting Against Hate Crimes (PAHC) grant program, building on $200,000 awarded in 2026.

This funding helps ensure JShield’s community-wide security trainings and programs remain available free of charge to Jewish organizations across Greater Washington. In 2025 alone, JShield partnered with 134 organizations, delivered 88 security trainings to more than 2,350 participants, and conducted 261 one-on-one consultations to help organizations assess vulnerabilities, strengthen emergency procedures, and build a stronger culture of security.

Beyond delivering training, JShield helps organizations navigate the often-complex process of applying for government security grants, including the PAHC grant program, helping unlock critical public funding that strengthens security across our community.

This latest award will also support security infrastructure enhancements at Federation, JCRC of Greater Washington, Makom, and other Jewish organizations serving thousands of community members each year.

JShield’s impact extends far beyond any one institution. Federation convenes Jewish organizations, security professionals, law enforcement, and government partners to share information, identify trends, coordinate responses, and strengthen preparedness across our region. Together, we’re building a connected, resilient community where no organization has to navigate today’s security challenges alone.

Public investment like this doesn’t replace community philanthropy—it amplifies it. Here in Greater Washington, many Jewish organizations have doubled or even tripled their security budgets, forcing difficulty choices between investing in security and funding the programs that strengthen Jewish life.

Government funding helps offset those costs, while philanthropic support makes it possible for Federation to sustain and expand JShield’s work, respond to emerging threats, and provide expert security services at no cost to Jewish organizations. Together, these investments create a safer, more resilient Jewish community. In 2025 alone, JShield helped local Jewish institutions secure more than $5.25 million in federal and state security funding, and this latest Maryland PAHC award builds on that momentum.

Our goal is to raise $1 million to strengthen the safety and security of Jewish Greater Washington. To help us get there, a group of generous donors are currently matching the first $375,000 in gifts to JShield, doubling your impact. Every gift helps ensure Jewish organizations across Greater Washington continue to receive expert security training, grant assistance, emergency preparedness resources, and coordinated support, at no cost to those who need it most.

Make your gift today and help build a safer, more prepared Jewish community.