Among the many allocations listed in the 1,159 page omnibus bill passed yesterday by Congress and expected to be signed by President Trump is $60 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Agudath Israel has spent more than a decade working with other Jewish groups at the forefront of creating and maintaining the program which currently provides funding for security enhancements for nonprofits that are at high risk of terror attacks.

“To individuals and institutions – synagogues, schools and charities –within the Jewish community that continue to reel from the anti-Semitic murders in Pittsburgh and from the uptick in anti-Semitic incidents nationwide, the threat of terrorism is distinct and tangible and we live within its shadow every day,” noted Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudath Israel of America’s Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director. “We are therefore grateful to Congressional leadership and the President for maintaining current full funding levels as we requested.”

Under the new spending bill, the amount of funding to nonprofits in specified at risk areas will be maintained at $50 million, while $10 million will be once again allocated for nonprofits in other locations. The NSGP is a much needed and sought after program by institutions in the Jewish community, which have benefited greatly from its assistance over the years.

“It has been both gratifying and rewarding to work with national and local Jewish groups from around the country in advancing the effort, and it was inspirational to see our own Agudath Israel constituents respond to the call by mobilizing and making this a priority issue in their communities and with their elected officials,” added Rabbi Cohen in hailing the achievement.