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Florida Legislature committees vote to set aside funds for security at Jewish schools

ORLANDO, Fla. — Budget committees in the Florida House and Senate voted Wednesday to set aside funds to help pay for security upgrades at Jewish schools in the state.

The amounts that legislators set aside range between $254,000 and $500,000.

Rabbi Sholom Dubov with the Chabad of Greater Orlando said the Jewish community is very concerned about the uptick in threats to schools and synagogues since the beginning of the year.

Since Jan. 9, there have been more than 150 bomb threats against Jewish community centers and day schools in 37 states and two Canadian provinces, according to a report issued late last month by the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish group that battles anti-Semitism.

"The threats are real," Dubov said. "The threats are very concerning."

There have been 17 threats made to Jewish centers in Florida this year, including the Jewish Academy Elementary School in Maitland and the Chabad of South Orlando.

"We could live with our head in the sand and ignore it, or we can confront it head on and it makes us stronger, better, happier and (a) more secure nation," Dubov said.

Rep. Randy Fine, a Brevard County Republican, says the money from the Legislature would go to pay for security upgrades at day schools now serving around 10,000 children. Budget documents say part of the funding go to fences and installing bullet proof glass.

"We know that we need to address (the threats) and hopefully all these various interventions will be a deterrent," Dubov said. "And we have to be vigilant and we have to be responsible people to make sure that every single child and every single school is safe."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.