Following the most recent example of an attack on a Jewish institution, communities across the United States once again find themselves on edge. The terrorist hostage situation inside Congregation Beth Israel on Saturday may have reminded many Jews in St. Louis of an incident that occurred just three months ago when St. Louis police arrested a man who threaten to blow up Central Reform Congregation.

That attack in Texas reminded many of the questions Jewish congregations and their leaders must ask regarding their own safety.

One St. Louis rabbi, Rabbi Daniel Bogard of CRC, used his own personal Twitter account on Monday, to personally speak out on these issues and the real-life costs Jewish institutions face every day in the name of security.

“I think my posting to Twitter was really about a deep sense that so few non-Jews understand the reality of the Jewish security situation in the United States today,” said Bogard. “I’m sure it was also inspired by a reservoir of resentment, and anger, and fear, at the amount of Jewish-American resources that should be going into serving our communities, repairing the world, and fulfilling our core mission, instead of spending it on defending ourselves from being murdered while we participate in the community.”

Below are Bogard’s Tweets as he voiced his opinion. All the Tweets are live, as well as the replies.

Every Jewish institution in America–no matter the size–has ongoing security costs of $50,000-150,000+. I think of this as a sort of “2nd Amendment tax” that the United States places on Jewish orgs. A short thread
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— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) January 17, 2022

If you come visit us (we love visitors), you’ll see all sorts of nice granite benches around the building for sitting and talking. Except those aren’t benches, they’re bollards, and they are there to prevent a vehicle from slamming into worshipers in the middle of Shabbat 2/

— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) January 17, 2022

My shul–like most Jewish congregations–has a cop by the front door. That’s because so many (white) Jews feel much safer knowing there is an armed guard. Meanwhile, so many Jews of Color hear a very different message from a police presence…. 3/

— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) January 17, 2022

Speaking of that (ununiformed) cop? We have to pay for a minimum of 4h of their time for any given event. That’s an incredible amount of money that is being poured into preventing an American with easy access to guns from murdering us for being Jews. 4/

— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) January 17, 2022

We can’t have a full conversation on antisemitism in America without talking about guns. I call the $100,000+ Jewish institutions spend / year on security a “2nd Amendment Tax” for a reason; it’s the cost Jews pay so that Americans can buy assault riffles at Walmart. 5/

— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) January 17, 2022

In early November someone threatened to blow up our building and murder us while we prayed… And in some profoundways we shrugged it off as a routine part of Jewish life. 6/ https://t.co/d4T1tXDhxG

— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) January 17, 2022

Every month or so we sustain a coordinated online white nationalist harassment campaign. “Kikes to the ovens'” ; “Finish Hitler’s Work!” ; Etc… Every👋 Month👋 7/

— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) January 17, 2022

At least once a week, as a public Jew, I’m harassed online with violent rhetoric: “We’re gonna send you to Gaza and let Hamas deal with you!” ; “We’re coming for you Juden!” 8/

— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) January 17, 2022

We’d love to add bulletproof windows to our sanctuary, but that would be *another* $250,000… Taken from our justice work, our community work, our youth work… And put into preventing people from murdering Jews in St. Louis, MO 2022. 9/

— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) January 17, 2022

Our medium-sized synagogue dedicates 100s of hours of staff time/$$$$ year applying for Homeland Security grants…and we haven’t gotten one since the Obama-era. Meanwhile, we have $100,000s of unmet security needs/wants sitting in a folder. 10/

— Rabbi Daniel Bogard (@RavBogard) January 17, 2022