US Jewish Groups Got 80% Of DHS Security Grants
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http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerBlog.jhtml?itemNo=908844&contrassID=25&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=1&listSrc=Y&art=1
Sun., October 07, 2007
American Jews are in great danger. Here's the proof.
1.
This might seem a little odd, but does this piece of news also make you feel
uncomfortable?
Most of the money allocated by the Department of Homeland Security, as part of
the Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant Program awards,
is going to Jewish institutions.
"2007 UASI NSGP provides funding support for target hardening activities to
nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of international terrorist
attack".
308 nonprofit organizations were awarded funds. Jewish groups received most of
the money ($19.6 million out of $24 million). Some examples: Jewish Federation
of Greater Long Beach/Alpert Jewish Community, Chabad Russian Synagogue,
Maimonides Academy, Temple Emanu-El of San Diego California, Allied Jewish
Federation of Colorado, Jewish Federation of Broward County, Yeshiva Gedola
Rabbinical College, Hillel's of Georgia, Telshe Yeshiva Chicago, Chicago
Rabinical Council, Torah Institute of Baltimore, New England Hebrew Academy,
Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva, Beth El
Synagogue of New Rochelle, Yeshiva of Manhattan Beach, Texas Friends Chabad
Lubavitch, Jewish Federation of Seattle, Jewish Community Center of Greater
Washington, etc etc.
2.
All in all, the Homeland Security Department received 612 grant applications
from organizations across the United States. More than half of them received
some money. This means that Jewish organizations were first and foremost well
organized and quick to take advantage of this new program. They submitted a
lot of the applications; they got a lot of the money. Some will give them
credit for being efficient and well prepared ? others will say that, as usual,
when money's involved you-know-who's going to grab it all.
3.
"One faith group is not necessarily at greater risk than another," department
spokesman Russ Knocke told the AP. "Risk is often circumstantial, and it is
constantly evolving."
However, this year it seems as if there is only one group at greater risk. And
it is the same group that keeps bragging how safe and wonderful it is to be
Jewish in America (Check out my latest article on the Changing Face of Judaism
web site).
4.
Anti-Semites will have a field day with this program. A department headed by a
Jewish Secretary (Michael Chertoff) giving public funds to mostly Jewish
institutions.
Is that why I feel uncomfortable? I hope not!
5.
Why then?
Because it focuses too much attention on the vulnerability of the Jewish
community; because it has the smell of fear; because the Jewish community is
wealthy enough to deal with security by itself; because the bloodier attacks
of recent years weren't aimed at Jewish institutions (Virginia Tech?).
And it doesn't look good. Yes, that too.
6.
The United Jewish Communities, the umbrella organization of the Jewish
federation system, was instrumental in this well-organized effort of the
Jewish community to get the grants. The UJC press release is boasting that the
organization "is a leading force in establishing and sustaining the nonprofit
security program, which is the only federal program targeted specifically to
protect at-risk nonprofits".
William Daroff, Head of the UJC Washington office, is quoted as saying that
these funds "come not a minute too soon to enable nonprofit organizations to
take critical steps to protect themselves and the citizens of this country."
So Daroff feels comfortable enough.
7.
I called some Jewish operatives and ask them to provide a rebuttal to my
complaints. Here's what I got:
Jewish institutions are indeed threatened.
They need more protection.
The government is willing to fund more protection.
The decision as to who gets the money was professional. If we got it, that
means the authorities think we are at more risk and need it.
Your reaction (meaning mine) smells of fear: the old Jewish fear of "what will
they say?" America is no place for such fears.
8.
They got a point. I'm still uncomfortable.
A disclosure: I'm a dues paying member of an institution which got one of the
grants.