Fifth Congressional District Claws Back Investments in Counterterrorism Nonprofit Security

More than $2.4 million back to NJ-5 in two years

Eight temples and churches to receive federal investment for security, preparedness from FEMA

First rural temple to win grant

GLEN ROCK, NJ – On Friday, August 2, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that eight temples and churches throughout New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District received new Nonprofit Security Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Fiscal Year 2019. The grants provide security for certain tax-exempt organizations that are at risk of a terrorist attack from homegrown and lone wolf, ISIS-inspired terrorists.

These grants go toward strengthening the National Preparedness System, which consists of identifying and assessing risk, estimating capability requirements, building and sustaining capabilities, and planning to implement, validating, and reviewing and revising those capabilities.

Gottheimer has worked closely with counties, towns, and nonprofits to help apply for and win competitive federal security grants, clawing back our federal tax dollars to fight homegrown terror. Several of the temples and churches succeeded in clawing back the maximum amount of grant investment of $100,000.

“Safety and security in our places of worship are at the bedrock of the American idea and we must do everything we can to protect them. Part of what makes America the greatest country in the world is our ability to practice our faiths in the manner in which we choose, free from violence,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “I’m proud to fight for these grants that claw back our federal tax dollars to protect our most fundamental freedoms and defend communities of faith from threats of violence and acts of lone-wolf terrorism.”

The temples and churches receiving the Nonprofit Security Grants for Fiscal Year 2019 are:

• Congregation Arzei Darom – Teaneck, Bergen County, $100,000
• Bnai Shalom – Newton, Sussex County, $45,000
• Young Israel of Fair Lawn – Fair Lawn, Bergen County, $100,000
• Congregation Beth Tefillah – Paramus, Bergen County, $100,000
• Congregation Bnai Yeshurun – Teaneck, Bergen County, $100,000
• Teaneck Chabad House: Friends of Lubavitch of Bergen County – Teaneck, Bergen County, $100,000
• Our Lady of Mercy Church – Park Ridge, Bergen County, $37,614
• The Church of the Savior – Paramus, Bergen County, $100,000

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