Jewish Community Partners

Memphis Jewish Federation recently led a delegation of lay and professional leaders to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the security needs of the Jewish community.

Joining 400 Jewish leaders from 82 communities at the national “fly-in” organized by Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) were Federation board chair Jimmy Ringel, board members Molly Lane and Alla Lubin, Executive Vice President Bluma Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein and Community Relations Manager Sara First. The Tennessee delegation was rounded out with leadership from Nashville and Knoxville.

Amid rising antisemitic violence nationwide, delegation members met with Representative David Kustoff and senior staff in the offices of Senator Marsha Blackburn, Senator Bill Hagerty, and Representative Steve Cohen to advocate for the newly introduced bipartisan Jewish American Security Act (JASA), legislation that would enhance security funding and strengthen the nation’s response to antisemitism.

At each congressional meeting, delegation members shared personal stories illustrating the impact of antisemitism on their lives and community. “In a community where six degrees of separation is often one or two, these attacks hit close to home,” Ringel explained. Alla Lubin recalled growing up in Ukraine, where her mother warned her not to reveal that she was Jewish. “When I moved to the United States, I never imagined I would need to follow those same rules here,” she said.

The landmark JASA legislation would increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) – a critical resource that has helped Memphis Jewish organizations offset significant security expenses – to $1 billion.

Highlighting the growing burden of security costs on Jewish communal life, Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein explained to our policymakers that security now consumes a substantial portion of the budgets of Jewish organizations both locally and across Tennessee. Lane added: “We are using a lot of money for security that could be spent on the important programming we need to keep our community engaged and cared for.  Without engagement, we lose the sense of community that is so strong in Memphis.”  

JASA also creates a new security funding grant for places of worship, requires the Department of Education to designate an antisemitism coordinator, and establishes new regulations to combat antisemitism at colleges that receive federal funding. The measure would also require new disclosures about how online platforms moderate and respond to antisemitic content.

During the meetings, delegation members also advocated for the SACRED Act, bipartisan legislation currently before the House of Representatives. The bill would establish a federal buffer zone around houses of worship, helping ensure that congregants can gather, pray, and practice their faith free from intimidation, harassment, and obstruction.

In every meeting, congressional offices demonstrated an appreciation of the security challenges facing Jewish communities and a willingness to engage on potential solutions. The delegation saw an immediate impact from its advocacy efforts when Representative Kustoff joined as a co-sponsor of the SACRED Act shortly after the meetings.

Prior to their meetings on Capitol Hill, delegation members participated in a powerful and informative briefing and advocacy training, including hearing testimony from communities directly impacted by antisemitic attacks. Referring to the March 2026 antisemitic terrorist attack against Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI, synagogue preschool parent Eddie Rubin said: “Because of the preparedness of the entire Temple Israel teachers, staff, clergy, and security, I was given the greatest gift that I will ever receive for my birthday, the gift of my two youngest children coming home to my family alive.”

Beth Israel Congregation President Zach Shemper described what remained of his Jackson, Mississippi synagogue after the arson attack this past January: “It is a shell of a building. Anyone, Jewish or not, when you walk inside this building, you weep.”

“The fly-in created significant momentum for strengthening our community’s security,” said First. “Memphis and our Tennessee Federation colleagues are committed to showing up. Community members can help by reaching out to their elected representatives to support JASA and the SACRED Act.” Scan the code below or click here.