New calls for more security funding for the Jewish community following Iran's attack on Israel

Iran's rocket attack on Israel on Tuesday evening caused scattered damage and fires from falling shrapnel, but authorities said there were no injuries.

That's a fact that Ron Halber, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, called “a miracle.”

However, Tuesday's attack is renewing calls for more money to secure Jewish institutions in the D.C. area as these sites remain on “high alert” since the Hamas attack on October 7 last year and the upcoming anniversary.

“In my synagogue you have to have a police officer if you have a bar mitzvah,” Halber said.

Halber said more money is needed at the local and federal levels to help synagogues and schools pay for armed security.

“A synagogue could easily spend $150,000 to $250,000 a year hiring off-duty police officers at $90 an hour,” he said.

While a threat from foreign-based terrorist organizations is possible here in the United States, Halber believes the greatest threat is domestic terrorists.

He added that he also recognizes that it's not just the Jewish community that needs more security, citing previous threats against members of the Asian American community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It's a sad fact that we have to spend so much money because I would rather use it on social programs and helping people, but our first obligation must be to ensure the safety of American citizens,” Halber said.

In a statement to WTOP, a DC Police spokesperson said that while there are no known threats to the city following the Iranian attack on Israel, the department is urging the community to remain vigilant.

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