AZ Senate passes funding bill to protect synagogues, others from terror attacks, hate crimes

Legislation to provide funding for security assistance to small nonprofit organizations, including synagogues and Jewish organizations, at high risk of terrorist attacks and hate crimes due to their mission or beliefs, passed its first big hurdle on Tuesday.

Senate Bill (SB) 1713 passed Arizona’s Senate by a vote of 20-9, representing a supermajority of legislators and bipartisan support, making it a standout in a legislative session otherwise noted for strict party-line voting.

The bill designates that funds will go towards deterrence and target-hardening applications such as installing security cameras, gates and fences that make a facility harder to penetrate, security guards and preparing for active shooter scenarios.

“This could be a game changer for small and medium-sized religious communities,” said Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman, president of the Greater Phoenix Board of Rabbis and spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillah in Cave Creek.

Sharfman is also part of the leadership teams of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix (JCRC) and

Arizona Faith Network (AFN), organizations that have been working on this legislation since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In her testimony in front of the Senate on behalf of SB 1713, Sharfman told senators that the government has a responsibility to protect its citizens and their rights, and “one of our most cherished rights is to practice our religion.”

Earlier this month, an FBI report found that anti-Jewish incidents increased nearly 20% in 2021 relative to 2020, a total of more than 10,800 total hate crimes — the highest number in decades. As in previous years, anti-Jewish incidents comprised the majority of the 1,590 hate crimes based on religion.

Sharfman is well aware of the rise of anti-Jewish sentiment and actions and called the cost of providing basic security for synagogues “staggering.”

Even so, most synagogues feel “it’s absolutely necessary to have security guards anytime there are programs, services and religious school activities,” she said.

Though the cost of that security is high, “it would be short-sighted of leadership not to take basic precautions,” she said.

Sharfman’s Congregation Kehillah applied for security funding through the federal nonprofit security grant

SEE SENATE, PAGE 2