Amid Rising Antisemitism, California Budget Includes Significant Funding for Nonprofit Security Grants, Social Services, and Holocaust Education
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, the California State Legislature approved legislation setting the parameters for the 2021–2022 state budget. The budget agreement adopted by the State Senate and State Assembly provides significant increases in funding for top Jewish community priorities, including enhancing the security of vulnerable Jewish community institutions, supporting the work of major Jewish social services agencies, and strengthening Holocaust education across the State of California. The budget provisions include:
- $50 million for the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides funding for security enhancements at nonprofit institutions—including synagogues, schools, and Jewish community centers—at risk of hate-motivated violence. The program was formally established in 2019 under legislation authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) and was championed by the Jewish Caucus in partnership with the LGBTQ and Asian Pacific Islander (API) legislative caucuses.
- $10 million for the Museum of Tolerance to create a new and fully interactive state-of-the-art exhibit on antisemitism that will comprise the entire third floor of the museum in Los Angeles. The Museum of Tolerance is the educational arm of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and challenges visitors to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts and confront the many forms of prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination that exist today.
- $5.7 million for Jewish Family Services Los Angeles (JFSLA) to purchase a permanent physical location in Van Nuys to operate a food bank as part of the SOVA Community Food and Resource Program.
- $2.5 million to support the expansion of the Holocaust Museum Los Angeles, which helps to educate tens of thousands of California students every year about the horrors of the Holocaust. Funding will support critical technology and capital improvements and builds on $6 million that the Jewish Caucus secured for the Museum in the 2019-2020 state budget.
- $1 million to support the renovation of the Tauber Holocaust Library operated by the Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) Holocaust Center in the Bay Area. Funding will protect priceless historical materials and allow them to be preserved in perpetuity, fulfilling the Holocaust Center’s mission of remembrance, research, documentation, and education.
- $8 million for case management support for individuals and families granted asylum, also called the Enhanced Services Program for Asylees (ESPA), a major priority for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS).
“The Jewish Caucus is proud that the state budget includes major investments in so many Jewish community priorities,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. “Our Caucus is deeply concerned about the increase in antisemitism, and we have been working hard over the past several months to ensure that the State of California stands with our community during these challenging times. We are particularly grateful to Governor Newsom, legislative leaders, and Jewish community organizations and activists across the state for their steadfast partnership and support of these efforts. These budget victories are proof of how much our community can accomplish when we work together, and will make a real and meaningful difference for our community and so many other vulnerable communities across California.”
“The Jewish Caucus secured extraordinary wins in the state budget this year,” said Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), Vice Chair of the Jewish Caucus. “Our budget commits resources to feeding hungry Californians, providing critical services to people granted asylum, and combatting antisemitism through expanded Holocaust education and security grants. We asked for a record level of support from the state budget to improve the lives of Jewish and all Californians, and our state leaders stood with us. We thank Governor Newsom and our legislative colleagues for ensuring that the Jewish community’s issues and values are represented in the 2021-2022 state budget.”
The budget is expected to be signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in the coming days. The Jewish Caucus is continuing to work on additional priorities as part of supplemental budget negotiations.
Jewish Leaders React to the State Budget
"The California Legislative Jewish Caucus, led by Assemblymember and Chair Jesse Gabriel, and Vice-Chair, Senator Scott Wiener, has shown tremendous leadership this year,” said Dr. Anita Friedman, Executive Director of Jewish Family and Children’s Services. “Whether securing funding to keep community institutions safe, providing resources to educate our youth about what can occur when hate and bigotry go unchecked, or championing critical health and human services for children, seniors and vulnerable adults, Jewish Family and Children's Services is forever grateful for the tireless efforts of the Caucus and our ongoing partnership. The funding to renovate and upgrade the Tauber Holocaust Library and Archives at JFCS will preserve a priceless archival collection that plays a central role in educational programs serving thousands of California students each year and researchers around the world."
“The virulent climate of Antisemitism today demanded leadership and determination by Chairman Jesse Gabriel and the Jewish Caucus and compelled them to arrange the funding of the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance’s proposed 8,000 sq/ft Antisemitism exhibition. Unfortunately, this exhibition is needed today more than ever and could not come at a more propitious time,” said Rabbi May, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Executive Director.
"From its origins as the country’s oldest and first Holocaust survivor-founded Museum, Holocaust Museum LA has served first and foremost our California community,” said Beth Kean, CEO of Holocaust Museum LA. “Through our innovative education programs provided free to students and visitors in our state, we exist to build a better tomorrow by sharing the horrors of the Holocaust and WWII antisemitism and through those lessons increase the hope such a tragedy never occurs again. This funding from the state for the Museum's expansion project will help ensure that the world will indeed, never forget. Our deepest appreciation to the Legislative Jewish Caucus for their ongoing support and advocacy."
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