On behalf of our 58 Heads of School from New York Jewish Day Schools and Yeshivas

February 3, 2022

Dear Governor Hochul,

On behalf of our 58 Heads of School from New York Jewish Day Schools and Yeshivas —

We want to thank you for your leadership in keeping our schools safe in the face of increasing acts of terror and hate.

The horrific terror attack at a Texas synagogue this month is but one more reminder that Jews are a favored target of homegrown and foreign terrorists and haters. Bolstered by the proliferation of antisemitic rhetoric and threats, they are emboldened, making it necessary for our schools to employ costly, high-level security measures. With parent and school budgets already strained by the COVID-19 pandemic, they need help to afford the necessary measures to keep their staff, students, and families safe.

Your Fiscal Year 2023 Executive Budget proposal offers this much needed help. Your expansion of the Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) Grant to $45 million – with broader flexibility for schools on how their per-pupil allocations are spent – leads the nation in strengthening security in our institutions. We are blessed that you and our elected officials in the legislature understand this terrifying reality and support programs to protect and secure Jewish and at-risk communities.

Thank you for working diligently to generously fund security in Jewish schools to protect students, teachers and parents. Thank you also for your role in funding a 7th round of the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grant program, which protects our houses of worship, community centers and other at-risk institutions.

We look forward to continued dialogue about stemming the spread of hate in our midst and bolstering safety in our communities.

With hopes for peace and safety,