Seven Jewish institutions in Queens are among 80 religious organizations in New York City that will receive money from a federal anti-terror grant from the Department of Homeland Security.
Congressmember Anthony Weiner, a member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, announced the grant on Monday, July 26 at the Rego Park Jewish Center. Weiner talked about his efforts to persuade Congress to allocate $525,000 to the seven institutions; a 95 percent increase from last year’s amount.
Weiner’s office said the specific identities of the seven establishments, including five synagogues, one Jewish Center and one yeshiva, are remaining confidential because of security purposes. It did acknowledge that the Rego Park Jewish Center, where the announcement took place, was one of the locations to receive funding.
“Over the years, these grants have proved to be vital resources in protecting our religious and cultural institutions,” said Weiner.
Located on Queens Boulevard, the Rego Park Jewish Center feels that they are at high-risk, in need of the funds, and were very happy to hear they received the grant after working so hard on their application, according Ruth Loewenstein, Chair of the Board and Sisterhood President at Rego Park Jewish Center.
They have a 14-step directive in place to improve their security measures, and they will use the funds from the grant to execute the first seven steps.
“Worshippers, museum-goers and hospital-visitors expect and deserve a safe environment, and this funding will go a long way towards ensuring their security,” Weiner said.
The increase of funding comes just over a year after the FBI and NYPD foiled an attempt to blow up Jewish institutions in the Bronx in May 2009.
“You don’t know when it’s going to happen, but it’s going to happen,” Loewenstein said. “It’s very, very bad times.”
