WASHINGTON — The rabbi who was held hostage at a North Texas synagogue last month appeared before Congress Tuesday, highlighting the need for increased security at places of worship. His testimony was part of a House hearing exploring ways to improve security and increase funding for religious centers.   

“Things have been happening for years,” Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker said in the hearing. “It’s a matter of when does that wake-up call happen?”

A gunman held Cytron-Walker and three others hostage at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville for hours. The Rabbi eventually threw a chair at the gunman, allowing him and the other hostages to escape. The FBI then killed the hostage taker in a shootout. 

Cytron-Walker credits additional federal funding for security and safety training for saving his life.

“Right now, there are far too many houses of worship that won’t get the support they need, especially small congregations,” he said. “Tragically, we live in a world where all houses of worship need protection.”

Lawmakers called the hearing to examine the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program. In 2020, Congress doubled funding for the program to $180 million. However, last year that program received applications seeking $400 million in aid. Now, lawmakers want to double the size of the FEMA grant program again, including that money in an appropriations bill currently being negotiated. 

“Colleyville’s incident is just another reminder of the antisemitic attacks that have increased greatly,” said Bill Humphrey, Director of Community Security at the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. “We know that last year, just in the North Texas-Oklahoma region, there was a 127% increase in antisemitic activity. So we know the threat is real, the need is real, and to be able to have that level of funding is critical.”