Jewish institutions across the U.S. have tightened security measures as a response to an increase in antisemitism since the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7. Because those measures have come at great financial cost to the community, the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula (UJCVP) has been working to identify outside funding to help offset the costs incurred by our local synagogues.  

The UJCVP is pleased to announce they were named as a recipient of a national grant funded by the Tepper Foundation. The $50,000 grant is aimed at addressing urgent increased security needs and focuses on supporting security for programs and institutions providing services to early-aged children through the end of 2024.  This grant from the Tepper Foundation will be dispersed to our community's synagogues and to the UJCVP to help offset the cost of hiring security personnel.

The Tepper Foundation, whose focus is on combatting identity-based hate, identified a need for security personnel in Jewish institutions serving young children. “At the Tepper Foundation, we believe that everyone has the right to enjoy the full expression of their identities, and that includes feeling safe in their local meeting spaces and places of worship,” said David Tepper, Founder and Chair of the Board of the Tepper Foundation. Tepper focused on safeguarding Jewish spaces frequented by families and children for this nationwide grant.

"Sadly, security is a top concern for our Jewish community and we are doing everything that we possibly can to bolster communal security," shared UJCVP CEO Eric Maurer. "The Virginia Peninsula was one of the first communities in North America to join SCN's Regional Security Director program.  Through this regional partnership, we monitor and improve our community's security posture and offer a range of security training programs and safety assessments to Jewish organizations on the Virginia Peninsula."

The Tepper Foundation’s current round of grants totaled $9 million and was awarded to 76 local Federations, including the UJCVP, across 30 states with a requirement that they be a recipient of Jewish Federations’ LiveSecure funding.  LiveSecure participating Federations, all of which have established comprehensive security plans under the auspices of Jewish Federations of North America, have committed to building and strengthening relationships with other religious leaders and faith-based institutions in their communities by sharing their security expertise. 

As part of the UJCVP's acceptance of the grant from the Tepper Foundation, the security investment will be leveraged to offer support and expertise to local faith-based institutions outside the Jewish community through annual trainings and Non-Profit Security Grant (NSGP) security assessment support. In doing so, local faith-based institutions will improve their ability to secure their own community, while the Jewish community strengthens its community relations efforts.

The UJCVP is proud to help create a safe, secure, and flourishing Jewish community.  To learn more about the UJCVP's Secure Community Initiative, click here.