By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yosef Konikov, Director of Chabad of South Orlando in Florida, testified to the congressional committee that oversees the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Rabbi Konikov expressed the concerns of both his and fellow Chabad rabbis in Florida and across the country regarding terror threats and the scourge of antisemitic attacks.
Rabbi Konikov testified along with Colleyville Texas Rabbi Charlie Citron Walker regarding some of the frustration of delays in the award process. His focus was on how to aid awarded sites without hold ups thereby ensuring sites get the much needed upgrades installed rapidly.
Additionally, the congressional committee heard how appropriations amounts should be doubled from $180 million to $360 million, at a minimum, to be able to meet the requests of Jewish sites nationally.
In 2021, only 46% of applicants were awarded despite high quality grant applications being submitted. It was revealed that this impacted high threat and well-qualified sites receiving that funding.
Rabbi Konikov cited the work of the Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch-Chabad, Rabbi Levi Shemtov, as well as Zalman Myer-Smith, director of the Community Security Organization, in encouraging elected officials to increase funding and accelerate the processing of awarded grants.
VIDEO:
Yasher koiach
A true Shliach .
Well said !!