Press Release

Schumer, Gillibrand Secure Over $5.1 Million To Improve Emergency Preparedness For Religious Institutions & Organizations In-And-Around NYC; Grants Awarded To 66 At-Risk Jewish Schools and Congregations

Jun 29, 2016

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced today that 66 New York Jewish organizations, including schools and congregations, and more have received a combined total of $5,172,143 for the 2016 fiscal year as Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Awardees. The program, run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), awards federal funds to nonprofit organizations that are at a high risk of a national terrorist attack to encourage preparedness efforts.

 “Would-be evildoers have previously targeted schools and congregations for attacks and that’s why FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program is critical in making sure that high-risk organizations like Jewish schools and congregations are safe and protected from terrorist attacks,” said Senator Schumer. “It is especially important for organizations in and around New York City to receive this federal funding, which will go a long way to ensure that they are fully prepared for whatever may happen in the future.”

“New York is the number one terror target in the world, so we must continue to be vigilant, and I’ll continue to fight for every available federal resource to help keep us safe,” said Senator Gillibrand. “New York’s religious institutions and non-profit organizations, including Jewish schools and congregations, are the backbone of our communities. These federal funds through Homeland Security will provide the necessary resources to help keep our places of worship safe and secure.”

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is run under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). For the 2016 fiscal year, the UASI NSGP was budgeted $20 million. Only eligible nonprofit organizations, as described by the 501(c)(3) tax code of 1986, may apply for this grant. To be eligible, the nonprofit must be at high risk for an international terrorist attack and must be located in one of the designated urban areas throughout the country.

 The 66 Jewish organizations that received funding from the New York City-metro area are:

  • Ahi Ezer Congregation
  • Associated Beth Rivkah School for Girls, Inc.
  • Babylonian Jewish Center
  • Bais Ruchel High School
  • Bais Uvi Grieding
  • Bay Terrace Garden Jewish Center
  • Be’er HaGolah Institutes
  • Beth Gavriel Bukharian Congregation
  • Beth Jacob Parochial School of Manhattan
  • Beth Rachel School for Girls
  • Boro Park Hatzolah
  • Chabad Lubavitch Community Center of Northeastern Queens
  • Chabad Lubavitch of Briarcliff Manor-Ossining, Inc.
  • Congregation Aish Kodesh
  • Congregation Beth Torah
  • Congregation B’nai Israel
  • Congregation Bnos Chaya
  • Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York
  • Congregation Khal Adath Jeshurun
  • Congregation Kneseth Israel
  • Congregation Machna Shalva
  • Congregation Mercaz Hatorah of Belle Harbor
  • Congregation Mount Sinai Anshe Emeth
  • Congregation Ohel Chabad Lubavitch
  • Congregation Or Zarua
  • Congregation Shaari Tefiloh of Kings Highway
  • Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale
  • Foundation for Sephardic Studies dba Bnei Yitzhak
  • Hebrew Academy of Long Beach
  • Hebrew Academy of Nassau County
  • Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway
  • Hebrew Educational Society of Brooklyn
  • Hebrew Institute of University Heights dba Hebrew Institute of Riverdale
  • Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
  • Lincoln Square Synagogue
  • Magen David Yeshivah
  • Manhattan Beach Jewish Center
  • Manhattan High School for Girls
  • Manhattan Jewish Student Center
  • Masores Bais Yaakov
  • Mesivta Ateres Yaakov of Greater Long Island
  • Mesivta Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin
  • Mirrer Yeshiva Central Institute
  • North Shore Sephardic Synagogue
  • Rabbinical Academy Mesivta Rabbi Chaim
  • Shaare Zion Congregation, Inc.
  • Shulamith School for Girls
  • Sonia & Max Silverstein Hebrew Academy
  • Staten Island Volunteers of Hatzalah, Inc. dba Hatzalah of Staten Island
  • Talmud Torah Ohel Yochanan
  • Talmud Torah Tashbar
  • Temple Beth Sholom Roslyn Heights
  • Temple Beth-El of Great Neck
  • The Jewish Center
  • The Merrick Jewish Centre
  • Torah Center of Hillcrest
  • Yeshiva and Mesivta Toras Chaim of Greater NY at South Shore
  • Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island
  • Yeshiva Ketana of Manhattan
  • Yeshiva of Central Queens
  • Yeshivah of Flatbush
  • Yeshivat Darche Eres
  • Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills
  • Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst
  • Young Israel of Oceanside
  • Young Israel Of Scarsdale, Inc.