Jewish Federations of New Jersey Applaud Fiscal Year 2023 Budget
New Jersey Fiscal Year 20223 budget provides vital funding to ensure safety and security of nonprofit and religious institutions, supports State’s most vulnerable population.

TRENTON – Jewish Federations of New Jersey (JFNJ) applauded the New Jersey State Budget for Fiscal Year 2023 which was signed into law by Governor Murphy today, commending leadership in Trenton for prioritizing budget matters that are of importance to New Jersey’s Jewish community.

“This Fiscal Year 2023 Budget demonstrates the unwavering commitment by Governor Murphy, Senate President Scutari, Speaker Coughlin and their colleagues in the Legislature to ensure the safety and security of nonprofit and religious institutions, vital resources to our most vulnerable populations, and support for our nonpublic school students, faculty, and institutions.” said Dov Ben-Shimon, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey. “We commend leadership in Trenton for prioritizing budget matters that are of importance to New Jersey’s Jewish community.”

Earlier this year, Jewish Federations championed advocacy efforts to codify the New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program, ensuring that legislation to make the program permanent was signed into law. Today’s budget builds on this effort by providing $5 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, an 81% increase in funding from the previous year’s budget.

“With incidents of antisemitism, hate and bigotry on the rise, we applaud a FY ‘23 budget that prioritizes funding to protect high risk nonprofits and religious institutions from threats to their safety and security,” said Susan Antman, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey. “Jewish Federations have worked closely with state partners to ensure the evolution and growth of this program through the years in order to meet changing threats and needs.”

In addition to the security of nonprofit organizations and religious institutions, the FY ’23 budget also commits $205 per pupil in nonpublic schools specifically earmarked for security funding. The increase from the previous year’s budget brings funding to the highest level in the state’s history.

“This increase in funding is a recognition by leadership in Trenton that the dangers of antisemitism and other hate motivated violence is still prevalent and has gone unabated,” said Jason Shames, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. “The funding enables nonpublic schools to take concrete steps to better protect their facilities, students and staff from potential threats and attacks.”

Additionally, the needs of students across our state are also addressed in the FY ’23 budget through funding that increases accessibility to nonpublic schools and support programs for students. The FY ’23 budget increases per pupil transportation funding to $1022 while per pupil nonpublic compensatory education increases to $1055 marking the first increase in nonpublic compensatory education since the 2007-08 school year.

“Increased investments to nonpublic school compensatory education will help accommodate students in need of basic remediation while addressing the increased costs of these services,” said Robin Wishnie, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties. “Transportation to school remains a priority and we are pleased to see a modest increase in funding from the previous year. We commend the states ongoing commitment to nonpublic school students, faculty, and institutions.

New Jersey’s FY ’23 budget also increases funding for New Jersey’s Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program (HSAP) to $525,000. This program provides critical care services to the over 1,000 Holocaust survivors who call New Jersey home.

“We are especially pleased that this budget provides an over 30% increase to New Jersey’s Holocaust Survivors Assistance Program,” said Jennifer Dubrow Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey. “This funding will allow for increased delivery of vital services to an aging population whose health and wellness challenges have only been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Jewish Federations of New Jersey is the coordinating voice of New Jersey’s leading Jewish Federations on matters of importance to New Jersey’s Jewish Community.