GARDEN CITY, NY – U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded more than $11 million for security enhancements to nonprofit organizations in the greater New York City area, including $1.7 million to 17 Jewish organizations, synagogues, and schools in New York’s fourth congressional district. The funding was awarded through DHS’s FY 2019 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which supports target hardening and physical security enhancements at nonprofit organizations that are at a higher risk of a terrorist attack.
“In the last year alone, religious organizations across the United States have seen an alarming increase in violence and domestic terrorism,” said Representative Kathleen Rice. “From the synagogue shootings in Poway and Pittsburgh to a series of church burnings in Louisiana, to the mosque shooting in New Zealand, our houses of worship are clearly vulnerable. So, it’s important that we remain vigilant and take the necessary steps to protect potential targets in our community. I am pleased that we secured this funding to help enhance security measures and emergency response capabilities at several Jewish nonprofits in our district, and I’ll continue working to ensure all of our communities have the resources and support they need to keep people safe.”
“We are so appreciative of the Congresswoman’s dedication to securing our synagogues and our houses of worship and for her assistance throughout this process,” said Rabbi Ira Ebbin of Congregation Ohav Shalom.
“Thank you to Congresswoman Rice for her hard work to help us accomplish our goal of making our synagogue safer,” said Phyllis Cohen, member of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Security Committee at Congregation Beth Ohr.
Each of the following NY-04 organizations received $100,000 in NSGP funding for FY 2019:
- Agudath Israel of the Five Towns (Cedarhurst)
- Congregation Bais Tefilah of Woodmere
- Congregation Beth Ohr (Bellmore)
- Congregation Bnai Torah of Lawrence
- Congregation Ohr Torah (Valley Stream)
- Congregation Shaaray Shalom (West Hempstead)
- Irving Place Minyan (Woodmere)
- Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach
- Merrick Bellmore Synagogue
- Rabbinical College of Long Island (Long Beach)
- Temple Am Echad (Lynbrook)
- Temple Avodah (Oceanside)
- Temple Beth Am the Reform Congregation of Merrick and Bellmore, Inc.
- The Center for Jewish Life (Merrick)
- Torah High School of Long Beach
- Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst
- Young Israel of Long Beach
In FY 2018, Rep. Rice helped secure nearly $1.2 million for eight non-profit Jewish organizations in New York’s fourth congressional district. In FY 2017, she helped secure $450,000 for six organizations, and in FY 2016, she helped secure a total of $575,000 for eight local organizations.
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