HARRISBURG, Pa. — Houses of worship around Allegheny County received more than $1.1 million in state grants to enhance their security, as hate crimes continue to rise in the state.
This grant program was created three years ago after the Tree of Life synagogue attack in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, which was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Pennsylvania ranked No. 1 in the nation for hate propaganda last year, according to a recent report from the Anti-Defamation League. Hate crimes doubled in the state between 2019 and 2020, and reached a 14-year high.
Rodef Shalom Congregation in Shadyside is one of the 21 religious nonprofits that received a grant from this program in the latest round of funding, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced earlier this month.