Stand Up for Jewish Values — and Our Safety
The Trump administration has issued an alarming memo aimed at stripping federal funding from nonprofits that engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Trump has told organizations that they must certify they are not using federal funds for so-called “illegal” DEI initiatives in order to remain eligible for grants.
This anti-DEI requirement appears to apply to lifesaving programs like the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps synagogues, Jewish schools, and community centers protect themselves from rising antisemitic threats.
This is extortion, plain and simple. By withholding security funding unless the recipients align with Trump’s agenda, the administration is forcing Jewish Americans to choose between our safety and our values. But DEI is not a threat – it’s a moral imperative that protects Jewish Americans. DEI reflects the Jewish values of tzedek (justice), chesed (kindness), and b’tzelem Elohim (the belief that every person is created in the image of God). Undermining DEI does not make us safer, and it attempts to force us to abandon members of our community who hold multiple identities at once.
We must respond with strength and unity, not by compromising our values for Trump’s extreme agenda. Add your name to urge your elected officials to strengthen the Nonprofit Security Grant Program without partisan conditions or loyalty tests to Donald Trump. Every synagogue, Jewish day school, JCC, and house of worship should have the security they need without compromising their values.
Newly-released data by the FBI found that, in 2024, there were more anti-Jewish hate crimes in the U.S. than in any reported year. Attacks on Jews made up 70% of religious-based hate crimes in 2024, despite Jewish Americans being just 2% of the population.
We need resources to keep our community safe, and the Trump administration is not acting in the best interest of Jewish Americans. Its anti-DEI crusade is an attack on our rights, our safety, and our values. JDCA will continue to stand up for Jewish institutions, for democracy, and for an inclusive future, and your voice and actions are critical in this fight.