Religious groups get security funding

BY AHMED LAKHANEY

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:44 AM EDT

In light of the recent attempted synagogue bombings in Riverdale, NY., five Queens synagogues that have a demonstrated vulnerability to terrorist attacks will be the recipients of roughly $300,000 in Homeland Security grants to their improve security.

Congressmember Anthony Weiner, along with State Assemblymember Rory Lancman and City Councilmember Jim Gennaro recently announced that Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid, Hillcrest Jewish Senior Center, Israel Center of Conservative Judaism, Jewish Institute of Queens and Parker Jewish Institute for Heal Care and Rehabilitation would receive grants. Sixty-one institutions throughout the city will split the $4.1 million in grants, with a maximum of $75,000 per institution.

Weiner cited that, “most non-profit organizations do not have the resources to fund security,” but taxes should not be raised to make sure these institutions remain safe.

In May, federal authorities working with the New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested four men who were planning to bomb the Riverdale Temple and the Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx. The men were also planning to attack military planes at an upstate Air National Guard base

The grants are through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), a non-profit security grant program designed to assist religious institutions, hospitals and other establishments with security grants, if they have been deemed possible targets.

State Assemblymember Rory Lancman said, “The safety of religious institutions in the community is a priority.”

“The money will go towards numerous things, from putting in new emergency exit doors, hiring security personnel, security cameras and installing metal detectors to ensure everyone’s safety,” Lancman said.

Eileen Meyerowitz, Financial Secretary and Grant Chairperson of the Israel Center for Conservative Judaism, said, “The synagogue in the past has been a target of anti-Semitic acts.”

This is the third grant for the Center.

Michael Brofman, President of the Hillcrest Jewish Center said they were a recipient of the grant last year and used that money to install security cameras. However this time around he plans to reinforce the doors, making them blast-proof.

According to Weiner, religious institutions are not the only ones at risk. He mentioned hospitals and museums that could be the targets of terror attacks.

Weiner said that he feels that they “expect and deserve a safe environment and these grants will go a long way towards ensuring their safety.”

Photo Courtesy of Congressmember Anthony Weiner
Congressmember Anthony Weiner (center) is joined by (from left) Marilyn Kaufman, President of the Israel Center of Conservative Judaism; Assemblymember Rory Lancman; Councilmember James Gennaro and representatives from Queens Jewish institutions to announce $300,000 in funding to improve security.