Security cash aids schools and shuls

Eight Jewish institutions in central and southern Nassau County will receive nearly $575,000 through the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, a spokesman for Rep. Kathleen Rice said on Monday.

Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere is a second time recipient of a $75,000 grant, Rice Communications Director Coleman Lamb said.

Other area institutions to receive $75,000 are Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Young Israel of Oceanside, Merrick Jewish Centre, the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach and the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway.

Yeshiva of South Shore in Hewlett will get $73,673, and Hebrew Academy of Nassau County $50,000. 

“The reality is that we live in dangerous times and the grant will go a long way towards making our synagogue safer,” said Aish Kodesh Rabbi Moshe Weinberger.

“We deeply appreciate Congresswoman Rice’s help in our having obtained the security grant for the sake of our synagogue,” said Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst.

Across the New York metropolitan area, 66 Jewish organizations and several churches have been awarded a total of $5.1 million to improve their security.

Rice, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said that “preventing and preparing for acts of terrorism and other emergency situations is always a collaborative effort, and one of the most effective things we can do at the federal level is help vulnerable or high-risk institutions harden their facilities and enhance their emergency response capabilities.”

Since terrorists have “previously targeted schools and congregations for attacks,” this funding is critical in making sure that such high-risk venues “are safe and protected from terrorist attacks,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said.

“New York is the number one terror target in the world,” Gillibrand added, so “we must continue to be vigilant.”

UJA-Federation and other Jewish groups worked with legislators to obtain the funds, which will be used for such things as automatically locking doors, hardened windows, and other security infrastructure.