In the eight years since a gunman killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh — the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history — synagogues and other Jewish institutions across the country have gone to great lengths to fortify themselves.

 

They have hired security guards, installed metal detectors, reinforced locks, bought cameras and established checkpoints. They have logged onto security briefings and participated in training sessions for clergy members specifically focused on preparing for active shooter events.

 

...Jewish institutions now spend $765 million annually on security, according to an estimate last year by the Jewish Federations of North America. A typical Jewish organization spends 14 percent of its annual budget on security, the organization estimates.

 

The president and chief executive of the Jewish Federations, Eric Fingerhut, called this a “Jewish tax” in a recent speech calling for increased federal funding for security, among other measures.

 

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