Investing in Stronger Jewish Communities
August 14, 2026
When antisemitic threats make headlines, security often becomes the focus only after an incident occurs.
At Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, that’s not how we operate.
Every day, Federation’s Security team works behind the scenes with synagogues, schools, agencies, and law enforcement to identify vulnerabilities, strengthen preparedness, and help Jewish organizations access the resources they need before a crisis happens.
That proactive approach became especially important following the March attack outside a synagogue and early childhood center in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. Although the attack occurred hundreds of miles away, it prompted Federation to immediately reassess security needs across Jewish Atlanta.
“We are constantly monitoring community security needs at Federation on a daily basis,” said Rich Walter, Federation’s Chief Impact Officer. “We’re really looking at three areas: Where are the physical vulnerabilities? How do we ensure personnel assistance? And what is the intelligence telling us?”
Rather than waiting months for state or federal funding, Federation quickly convened Jewish organizations and law enforcement partners, identified the community’s most urgent needs, and awarded targeted security grants to strengthen vulnerable facilities.
One of those grants funded the installation of security bollards at Ahavath Achim Synagogue.
Executive Director Wayne Keil had already identified the synagogue’s open entrance as a vulnerability while waiting for a FEMA-funded perimeter fence.
“The synagogue in Detroit was targeted… they did not have a perimeter fence nor did they have bollards,” Keil said. “That car was able to get straight up at the building. Right after that was when people in the community started talking about, ‘Let’s get some bollards.'”
Unlike cameras that record an incident after it happens, bollards are designed to stop a vehicle before it can reach a building or the people entering it.
“We need things that keep things from happening,” Keil explained. “We need distance. If somebody is going to engage in a terrorist activity… we have to keep them at a distance so that the guards have time to engage them. And that’s what these bollards accomplish.”
For many organizations, making improvements like these isn’t simply a matter of planning ahead. Unexpected security needs often compete with everyday operational expenses.
“Without the grant, we wouldn’t be getting it done,” Keil said. “When something comes up like this, it’s not like you have time to budget for it.”
The funding is just one part of Federation’s broader security strategy. In addition to investing in physical security enhancements, Federation provides security assessments, grant-writing assistance, intelligence sharing, law enforcement coordination, and training to help organizations prepare for potential threats before they occur.
“The most important thing for our community to know is that we are always monitoring, always looking for vulnerabilities, and assessing how we can best assist,” Walter said. “We want to help lower the barrier to make sure that everyone is able to keep their community safe.”
Because of Federation donors, Jewish Atlanta isn’t waiting for the next crisis. Together, we’re investing today to ensure our community remains safe, resilient, and strong for generations to come.