Maryland places of worship will receive nearly $7.4 million of federal funds through the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program that boosts safety and security for “high-risk nonprofits,” including faith-based organizations, according to a press release.
Maryland lawmakers announced that 50 Maryland faith-based organizations will receive $7,393,350 in funding, with 27 Baltimore area organizations receiving $150,000 in funding each, totaling $4,050,000.
The Dec. 19 announcement came from U.S. senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.).
“Religious freedom is protected under our Constitution, and every Marylander must be able to worship without fear for their safety,” Maryland lawmakers said in a joint statement.
“With threats and attacks against faith communities on the rise, we must not only speak out against those hateful actions – we also must invest in protecting these institutions that support communities across our state. Maryland families can trust that these federal grants will help ensure houses of worship have the resources they need to keep them safe.”
Fourteen Baltimore-area Jewish organizations were among those selected, including: Adamah, Chabad of West Pikesville, Chabad-Lubavitch of Maryland, Congregation Aish Kodesh, Congregation Ariel Russian Community Synagogue, Congregation Kneseth Israel, Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue, Jewish Community Services, Keter Torah, Mosdos Kehal Chassidim – Day Care, Ohr Menachem Jewish Center, the Greenspring Valley Synagogue and Center (Ner Tamid), Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh and the Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary for Girls.
The lawmakers said they fought for a $149.5 million increase in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program in Fiscal Year 2024 from Fiscal Year 2023, from $305 million to $454.5 million.
The funding comes after more than a year of rising antisemitism that exploded after Oct. 7, 2023, which has seen security of faith-based organizations, especially Jewish ones, become a major concern for communities, law enforcement and legislators.
