WASHINGTON (JTA) — Jewish institutions received nearly all of the funding from the Department of Homeland Security for nonprofit groups to help protect themselves from terrorism.
The department announced $10 million in federal security grants last week, and $9 million went to Jewish institutions, according to a statement by Jewish Federations of North America.
“The Department of Homeland Security has demonstrated a great commitment to protecting at-risk communities,” said Michael Siegal, chair of the JFNA’s board of trustees.
The total amount of grants was up slightly from last year’s $9.7 million.
The Jewish Federations of North America and the Orthodox Union were instrumental in making sure the Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant program was continued.
Since Congress established the program in 2005, a total of $138 million has been distributed to help at-risk nonprofits acquire and install security enhancements and undertake preparedness training, the JFNA said.
“Since September 11, nonprofits generally, and Jewish communal institutions specifically, have been the victim of an alarming number of threats and attacks,” said William Daroff, vice president for public policy and director of the Washington office of Jewish Federations, referring to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Homeland Security and the FBI over the past decade have alerted local officials and the Jewish community to specific terror threats, JFNA said.
