YARDLEY, PA — Pennsylvania is taking a decisive stand on school safety, setting an unprecedented example amid growing concerns over antisemitism and school violence. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) recently visited Abrams Hebrew Academy to spotlight the school’s efforts in utilizing its $75,000 grant from the state’s FY 2024-25 Targeted School Safety Grant program. With this funding, the academy joins 366 other entities receiving nearly $20 million in state support for bolstering school security.
This visit adds weight to the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s commitment to student safety and mental health. Over the past two years, Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis have funneled a whopping $275 million into making schools across the state safer. Much of this funding has reached over 1,000 public and nonpublic schools, addressing a core question every parent, educator, and child faces today: Are our schools truly safe?
Concrete Action in Uncertain Times
Abrams Hebrew Academy, which serves children from preschool through eighth grade, exemplifies what these grants can achieve. The $75,000 they’ve received will fund substantial security upgrades, including enhanced physical barriers, advanced emergency communication systems, and security personnel wages. Additionally, the academy secured an extra $25,000 in October through PCCD’s Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program. This supplemental funding will facilitate the installation of panic buttons and security cameras and ensure safety training for both staff and students.
Rabbi Ira Budow, Head of School at Abrams Hebrew Academy, emphasized the critical importance of this funding. “I’ve been in education for over thirty years and never before have we faced this challenge as we do today,” said Rabbi Budow. “Across the country, Jewish day schools have struggled over the last year to keep up with the increased security needs to meet this unprecedented time of antisemitism. That’s why we’re thankful to live in a state like Pennsylvania, with a leader like Governor Shapiro, who understands the need to protect schools like ours and ensure our children can continue to learn in safety.”
The reality Rabbi Budow describes underscores why programs like the Targeted School Safety Grants are no longer optional in the current climate—they’re essential.
Safety as a Prerequisite for Learning
Mike Pennington, Executive Director of PCCD, highlighted the deliberate urgency behind the initiative. “Keeping Pennsylvania students safe and healthy is a top priority of the Shapiro-Davis Administration,” said Pennington during the visit. “Our kids can’t learn if they don’t feel safe within the walls of their school. It was great to hear first-hand from staff, students, parents, and local law enforcement about how the Abrams Hebrew Academy is using this critical funding to support students and make learning environments safer now and in the future.”
This conviction aligns with the growing recognition that emotional well-being and academic success are inseparable from physical safety. Especially for schools like Abrams Hebrew Academy—serving the Jewish community in times of alarming hostility—this funding goes beyond metal detectors and silent alarms. It’s about ensuring that behind every reinforced door and security camera, students can live, learn, and dream without fear.
Addressing Antisemitism Head-On
Abrams Hebrew Academy’s efforts to ramp up security illuminate a larger, troubling trend. Antisemitism in the United States has reached levels not seen in decades, leaving Jewish communities and institutions to bear the brunt of escalating violence and intimidation. Arielle Frankston-Morris, Executive Director of Teach PA, called attention to the stakes. “Our organization works with all of the Jewish day schools across the Commonwealth and this type of support is unfortunately needed now more than ever,” she said. “Our communities have had to shoulder much of the financial burden of the heightened antisemitism in this country, and this funding is a big step in mediating this problem.”
Frankston-Morris’s remark captures a grim but vital truth. While no school should have to fight for basic safety, Jewish institutions are forced to balance education with the added responsibility of shielding children from escalating hate.
Broader Implications for Pennsylvania and Beyond
Pennsylvania is showing how targeted investments can provide a lasting safety net in these turbulent times. The $20 million allocated through the Targeted School Safety Grants doesn’t just secure entryways or fund personnel; it sends a powerful message about priorities. It says the safety of every child—regardless of creed or background—matters. Achievements like those at Abrams Hebrew Academy ripple outward, signaling to other states and leaders that proactive initiatives can address systemic issues like antisemitism while improving macro-level security.
At the same time, the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s success in driving $275 million into schools over two years hints at the depth of need stretching far beyond what has already been achieved. Despite this progress, the path forward is clear—we must do more, invest more, and demand more of every institution tasked with protecting children.
Protecting Schools, Preserving Communities
Abrams Hebrew Academy is far from the only school benefitting from Pennsylvania’s decisive action. Municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and other institutions across the state are using this funding to provide everything from security services to training programs. But in Yardley, where the specter of antisemitism looms large in the collective consciousness, these grants are life-changing.
The PCCD’s visit underscores a critical truth—keeping students safe is not just about installing new locks or hiring guards. It’s about fostering an environment where threats are minimized, fears are calmed, and children, no matter their background, can thrive. By funding these protections, Pennsylvania is building more than just safer schools—it’s paving the way for a stronger, more inclusive future.
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