Agudah Urges Jewish Community to Push for Increased Security Funding

Amid the recent wave of terror attacks and threats, Agudath Israel has asked the Jewish community to contact their congressional representatives and urge them to increase funding for security.

“The Jewish community has a particular stake in this issue as it is no secret that we are a vulnerable and high-risk target,” the organization said in a press release.

In particular, the Agudah is now focusing on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which funds security equipment — such as cameras, concrete barriers and  reinforced doors — for non-profit institutions, in certain cities, that are at high risk of terrorist attacks.

Over the past years, Jewish institutions such as shuls and yeshivos have been among the program’s beneficiaries. For the 2016 fiscal year, the Agudah successfully worked to increase the Senate appropriation to $25 million. “Now, on the House side, we are encouraging support for a bi-partisan letter, circulated by Representatives Peter King (R-NY) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), urging members to match the Senate appropriation,” said the Agudah in the release.

“Given the increasing terrorist threat, the current funding level of $13 million for NSGP is simply not enough to adequately secure American institutions,” said the Agudah. “The increase will help provide more security to more institutions in more communities — enhanced protection that our nation urgently needs.”

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