On Monday, December 2, Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers hosted a roundtable at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale.
Silvers was joined by Rebecca K.K. Sternhell, principal deputy assistant secretary at the Office of Partnership and Engagement and acting executive director of the Homeland Security Advisory Council; and Mohamed Telab, deputy regional director at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The roundtable consisted of a group of elected officials and Jewish community leaders, including New York State Assemblyman Jeffery Dinowitz (D-81), New York City Councilman Eric Dinowitz (D-11), and representatives from UJA-Federation, the ADL, JCRC-NY, SAR Academy, Kinneret Day School, the Riverdale Jewish Center, Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale, and the Community Security Initiative.
The conversation focused on the safety of the Riverdale Jewish community and the resources available from DHS to combat antisemitism, most notably the Nonprofit Security Grant funding. According to FEMA, The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) provides funding support for target-hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack. The intent is to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.
Silvers said: “The Department of Homeland Security is unwavering in its commitment to protecting the Jewish community and ensuring it has the tools necessary to protect itself in the face of unprecedented antisemitism. We have seen antisemitic rhetoric, violence and intimidation weaponized in this country and it is unacceptable. It is the job of the Department of Homeland Security to work directly with the Jewish community organizations, so they have the money and the resources and the know-how to protect themselves.
“I came here to join Representative Torres, who is an incredible leader on supporting Israel and on combating antisemitism in this country,” Silvers continued. “He is one of the best voices in Congress and in our country on this issue. When he invited me to come to Riverdale to meet with the community here, I was thrilled to accept. DHS is proud to partner with Representative Torres, local elected officials and Jewish community leaders. These engagements help us share insights about the current threat landscape and ensure that vital resources reach those in need.
“We talked about how we’re committed to increasing the amount of funding that’s available to faith-based institutions like synagogues to protect themselves so they can buy the security cameras and protective services that they need to make sure their congregations are safe. I heard feedback from the community about what they are concerned about and what more they would like to see from the federal government to support this community at a time it is under siege or feels under siege. This conversation was productive. It was candid. It was straightforward. It just builds on the inroads we have made and the deep partnerships between the Department of Homeland Security and the Jewish community that we are obligated to protect,” Silvers said.
DHS recently issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for $210 million more in grant funding on top of $450 million already distributed this year. “We have really succeeded in winning support from Congress for a much larger pool of money given the unprecedented threat environment,” stated Silvers. “We are working very closely with the community to distribute those funds. We also work closely with the FBI and local police departments like the NYPD here in New York, so that if there’s any evidence of a specific threat, we are going to be working to notify the potential victims, so they can protect themselves and to support an investigation and disruption of that threat. We are fully committed to providing whatever funding and resources are necessary so that those kinds of law enforcement and intelligence activities can continue.”
Torres said: “I am thankful to Under Secretary Silvers and the DHS for coming to Riverdale and engaging in a productive conversation with Jewish community leaders about antisemitism, Nonprofit Security Grant funding, and the road ahead. It will not be forgotten that DHS showed up and listened at a time of heightened antisemitism, and for that, I am deeply grateful.”
