Ohav Shalom, Yeshiva Schools receive more than $325,000 in security grant funds
FEMA awards NSGP grants
Two Jewish organizations in Allegheny County have received federal grants totaling more than $325,000.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded the money through its Nonprofit Security Grant Program to Yeshivath Achei Tmimum of Pittsburgh, more commonly referred to as the Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh and Temple Ohav Shalom in Allison Park.
Yeshiva Schools received nearly $200,000, which will be used to enhance security at its Forbes Avenue location, according to Chaya Engle, who wrote the grant for Yeshiva Schools.
Engle, who has a Juris Doctor degree, assists several schools, congregations and other organizations in applying for NSGP grants through an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.
The grant funds given to Yeshiva Schools will be used for contracted security as well as updating access control and cameras on its property.
Engle said the Federation’s security team and outside security consultants were helpful in determining what aspects of the school’s security should be enhanced.
“Our grant circles back to the fact that there was a driver who kept driving by and yelling at the girls’ school,” she said. “But there are so many incidents that focus on this building.”
Temple Ohav Shalom received a grant of more than $133,000.
Audrey Kitzes is the congregation’s executive vice president of administration and member relations. She wrote the grant application for Ohav Shalom, but credited Ilene Cohen and the Federation for helping with framing the need and editing.
“We absolutely wouldn’t have gotten it without their assistance,” she said. “It was a group effort.”
Away from Ohav Shalom, Kitzes is a manager of grant and restricted fund accounting and finance at UPMC. The work is related, but in her role with the UPMC she’s focused on compliance, not drafting grant applications.
Her husband, Justin Kitzes, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, “constantly writes grants” and gave advice, as well, she said.
The Ohav Shalom grant application was submitted in fall 2025. Kitzes said the government shutdown contributed to the delay in receiving the award.
Like Yeshiva Schools, Ohav Shalom will use the grant funds for additional cameras and contracted security needs, as well as fencing.
The grant, Kitzes said, was something the congregation’s entire board felt was important. The funds will cover its security needs through August 2028.
Ohav Shalom’s Senior Rabbi Aaron Bisno said that “prioritizing and budgeting for security is, unfortunately, a reality of what it means to be a Jewish community today.”
He is thankful, he said, that the grant will help address issues that concern everyone and that the congregation will be able to “focus on delivering proud and joyful Jewish experiences.”
Shawn Brokos, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s community security director, called the NSGP “an essential tool used by the faith-based community to better secure houses of worship.”
She noted that the Jewish community works “diligently” before the grant opening date to ensure security assessments have been completed and priority security items identified.
“After that, our organizations focus on the application narrative that details threats received and articulates the need for more security dollars,” she said.
Not only is the process time consuming, she said, but each year between 10-20 organizations apply for the grants and only a small number receive funding.
“We are grateful that Yeshiva and Temple Ohav Shalom received the 2025 funding and now we are eagerly awaiting the result of the 2026 applications,” Brokos said. “We hope to hear by the end of 2026.” PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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