In March, a car rammed into a synagogue near Detroit while more than 100 preschoolers were inside. No one was hurt because trained armed guards knew exactly what to do.

Here in Pittsburgh, we know all too well what happens when Jewish institutions become targets. The shooting at the Tree of Life building, the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history, changed our community forever and reminds us that protecting Jewish life requires constant vigilance and sustained investment in security.

That is why security funding matters. And that is why we need your help to strengthen protections for Jewish schools, synagogues and community institutions by supporting the Jewish American Security Act.

Watch this two-minute video to see why we're joining this national advocacy effort:

Jews make up 2% of the U.S. population, yet are the target of nearly 69% of all religion-based hate crimes in this country. Jewish communities nationwide spend more than $765 million each year on security because federal funding falls far short of the need.

Your Federation is working to close that gap. In addition to advocating in Washington, our Federation works year-round to secure security funding for our community and its organizations by lobbying in Harrisburg and helping local institutions with security assessments and grant writing.

Last month, we joined more than 400 Jewish leaders in Washington, D.C., for a national advocacy effort led by the Jewish Federations of North America. We met with Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick to advocate for our community's security needs.