Homeland Security to give $15 million to Jewish groups for security

The U.S. Homeland Security Dept. will providing about $15 million in grants to Jewish communal organizations and institutions considered vulnerable to attack.

Tuesday’s announcement marked the sixth installment of the Homeland Security Dept.’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which has been in place since 2005. Since its inception, $118 million has been distributed to nonprofits to help fund video surveillance, blast-proof windows and promote security-related preparedness. On Tuesday, the Homeland Security Dept. announced $19 million in new grants, 80 percent of which will go to Jewish institutions.

The Jewish Federations of North America praised the announcement.

“The Department of Homeland Security has demonstrated a great commitment to protecting the Jewish American community,” said Cheryl Fishbein, chairwoman of the Federations’ Domestic Affairs Cabinet.