For the past several weeks, including over the last two days, more than 100 Jewish community centers and day schools have been the target of anonymous bomb threats. In addition, two Jewish cemeteries have been desecrated by vandals. Whether these incidents happened in centers on our street or across the country, each feels very close and deeply personal.

Over the last few years, security precautions have become a regular feature of our lives and a matter of daily diligence for Jewish communal leadership. So while the increase in the threats is troubling on many levels, our community is organized and experienced in dealing with the safety of clients, participants, and employees. We want you to be aware of some of the many actions taken by UJA over the past weeks as an example of the role we play at times like this.

– We surveyed our network of agencies to help us identify any unmet security needs and are currently working to address those findings. Additionally, we are working with our 22 partner JCCs to ensure they have the support they need during this time and that they meet eligibility requirements to best position them to receive state and federal security funding. We will continue to explore new ways to support our network agencies in this regard.

– We are lobbying the federal government to increase federal funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and are working with our local Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC-NY) and federal and state agencies to ensure that our most at-risk agencies receive funding.

– We stood alongside Governor Cuomo on Thursday, February 23rd, as he announced $25M in new funding to secure Jewish organizations. Our government relations professionals are working with the governor’s staff to ensure that our most vulnerable institutions are awarded this critical funding.

– We convened our partner JCCs for a briefing with experts from the Department of Homeland Security, NYPD Counterterrorism Unit, and the Office of Emergency Management, and will continue to provide these convening opportunities.

– Most important, what allows us to act is the strength of our ongoing relationships — with our nonprofit partners, government officials, and experts in the security and law enforcement communities.

 

Update: March 3, 2017

– We support the Secure Community Network (SCN), a nation-wide Federation initiative focused on the safety and security of Jewish institutions and communities across the country. SCN today announced the creation of a National Security Advisory Council, chaired by the former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, to facilitate even greater partnership between the Jewish community and federal, state, and local law enforcement leaders.

 

Update: March 10, 2017

– This week, members of UJA’s Public Policy Committee, a local JCC executive, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), and Jewish Federations of North America met at the Capitol with key congressional leaders, including Rep. Mike McCaul, Sr., chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, to discuss Non-Profit Homeland Security monies for JCCs, day schools, and other Jewish institutions. Rep. McCaul was incredibly supportive of our efforts and pledged to work actively to address the needs of our local Jewish institutions.

– We also met with a broad group of New York City council members who called for $25 million in additional monies for security at Jewish institutions. And, we attended a closed-door roundtable briefing on Staten Island with Mayor Bill de Blasio, Police Commissioner James O’Neill, and Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon to address local security concerns.

 

Update: March 21, 2017

UJA and our partners, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and NYC Emergency Management, present the following webinars and security roundtables:

 

Open to Jewish Organizational Leaders in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester:

– Webinar: DHS (Homeland Security) Grant Writing Presented by JCRC and SYNERGY

March 21, 2017; 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm; no R.S.V.P. required; click here to join when webinar begins.

Contact if you are not available on March 21st and would like a copy of the recording.

 

– Protecting Our Communities: An Emergency Planning Workshop for Faith Leaders

A day of emergency preparedness planning presented by FEMA and NYC Emergency Management.

April 4, 2017; 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, New York; Click here to register.

 

Region-Specific Programming:

– Manhattan: Security Roundtable Presented by SYNERGY in Partnership With New York Board of Rabbis

March 30, 2017; 9:30 am – 11:30 am at UJA-Federation of New York, 130 East 59th Street, New York City.

R.S.V.P. to by March 23rd; space is limited.

 

– Long Island: Protecting Your Employees, Worshipers, and Interests: A Security Symposium Presented by JCRC, UJA-Federation of New York, and the Mid-Island Y JCC

March 29, 2017; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at Mid-Island Y JCC.

R.S.V.P. to cstapleton@squadsecurity.com by March 27th.

 

– Westchester: DHS Grant Training Workshop Presented by the Westchester Jewish Council and JCRC

March 22, 2017; 9:30 am – 11:30 am at 701 Westchester Avenue, Suite 203E, White Plains, New York.

R.S.V.P. to security@wjcouncil.org; there is a limit of 2 people per organization.