FEATURED JOBS
Comments (0)The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released $19 million to secure nonprofits, the vast majority Jewish.
Of the 271 institutions named in a list released this week by Homeland Security, 254 are Jewish, including synagogues, schools, community centers and offices.
The funds were released as part of a congressionally mandated program in place since 2005 that targets institutions that are vulnerable to attack.
Security measures funded include “blast-proof windows; reinforced doors, locks, gates, and fences; video surveillance; and other equipment and enhancements” as well as training, according to a release by the Jewish Federations of North America, the federations umbrella body that lobbies annually for the funding.
“The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a proven resource that helps supplement the work of local and federal law enforcement to help keep us safe,” William Daroff, JFNA’s Washington director, said in a statement.
Other groups lobbying for the money include two Orthodox umbrella bodies, the Orthodox Union and Agudath Israel of America.
OU called the funds “an important tool to help prevent terrorist attacks and protect civilians in case of such attack” and Agudah said “threats and actual incidents of violence against Jewish targets in the United States and around the world point to the particular vulnerability of our community.”
Sen. Barbara Mikuski (D-Md.), who has shepherded the funding through congressional appropriations, said she remained committed to sustaining the program.
“I have fought for these funds in the past, and I will keep fighting to protect institutions that are vital to our communities and the physical, social, spiritual and educational well-being of all Americans,” she said.
American Jewish Congress Suspends Activities
The American Jewish Congress has suspended its activities after running out of funds.
The suspension of the venerable Jewish-American advocacy organization’s activities, confirmed to JTA on Sunday by acting co-executive director Marc Stern, comes after months of rumors that the organization was on the verge of collapse after losing most of its endowment in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme.
As of Sunday afternoon there was no mention of the suspension on the AJCongress website.
The Jerusalem Post had reported in April that the AJCongress lost as much as 90 percent of its approximately $24 million endowment in the Madoff scam.
Richard Gordon, the AJCongress president, told the Post that the group has money in the bank but cannot access it now due to the constraints of its constitution.
The 92-year-old organization is rumored to be in merger talks with the American Jewish Committee.
Obama Official Assures on Israel Defense Aid
An Obama administration official committed to sustaining a 10-year defense assistance program to Israel, saying that advanced technology is endangering Israel.
Andrew Shapiro, the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, said in a rare speech last Friday that the Obama administration since its outset has been committed to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge over its neighbors.
“Ever-evolving technology is making it harder for Israel to maintain its security,” Shapiro told the Brookings Institution. He outlined advances in rocket technology available to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as well as broader threats from Iran.
“Even in this challenging budgetary time, the administration will honor this 10-year commitment,” he said, referring to an agreement struck by President George W. Bush that guaranteed Israel an average of $3 billion in defense assistance a year for 10 years starting in 2007.
Shapiro outlined the manifestations of the qualitative military edge: U.S. defense assistance to Israel; close cooperation and consultation between the two defense establishments; and an agreement not to sell materials to Israel’s neighbors that could mitigate against Israel’s edge.