Fifteen nonprofits in the state’s Fifth Congressional District — including houses of worship, schools and local community organizations — will received a total of $2.1 million from the new Nonprofit Security Grants Program, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced Monday.
The Nonprofit Security Grants Program is intended to enhance the protection of soft targets and crowded places through operational coordination; public information and warning; intelligence and information sharing; interdiction and disruption; screening, search and detection; access control and identity verification; physical protective measures; and risk management for protection programs and activities.
It also provides for safety and security through security guards; physical security enhancements like closed circuit television security cameras; training; security screening equipment for people and baggage; and access controls like fencing, gates and barriers.
Gottheimer (D-5th Dist.) said the federal investment for Fiscal Year 2021, which comes from FEMA, will provide security for churches, mosques, temples, religious schools and other organizations that are at risk of a terrorist attack from homegrown and lone-wolf ISIS-inspired terrorists and white supremacists.
“This whole program is about fighting against antisemitism and hate and white supremacy and lone-wolf terror. It is about protecting against anyone who seeks to harm our families,” Gottheimer said. “This is about making sure that our churches and our synagogues and our mosques are safe, and that religious institutions and freedom, which are so deep at the heart of who we are, are safe.”
Here’s a look at who is getting federal money in the Fifth District:
- Ben Porat Yosef Inc., Paramus: $150,000
- Christian Health Care Center (Sicomac Ave.), Wyckoff: $149,600
- Church of the Presentation, Upper Saddle River: $150,000
- Congregation Beth Aaron of Teaneck, Teaneck: $150,000
- Congregation B’Nai Jeshurun Barnert Memorial Temple, Franklin Lakes: $150,000
- Congregation Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck: $150,000
- Fair Lawn Jewish Center, Fair Lawn: $66,650
- Jewish Community Center of Paramus/Congregation Beth Tikvah, Paramus: $137,500
- Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey Inc., Teaneck: $150,000
- Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America, Old Tappan: $150,000
- Northern Teaneck Synagogue Association dba Congregation Keter Torah, Teaneck: $150,000
- Sephardic Congregation Shaarai Orah of Teaneck Inc., Teaneck: $150,000
- Sinai Special Needs Institute, Teaneck: $150,000
- Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, New Milford: $150,000
- Yeshiva of North Jersey, River Edge: $150,000
