The scene outside the JCC in Nashville, Tenn., following a bomb threat last year. Photo: YouTube screenshot.

The US Department of Homeland Security’s announcement last week of the awarding of $60 million in federal security grants to nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist attack was warmly welcomed by a number of major American Jewish groups.

Nathan Diament — executive director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center — stated, “We are deeply appreciative that DHS has awarded this year’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program awards. The $60 million funding level is the highest for this program since its inception.”

“We are thankful for the leadership and support of those in Congress who have championed this program on a bipartisan basis including: Sens. Shelby, Schumer, Boozman, Hoeven, Portman, Peters, Nelson, Blunt and Van Hollen and Reps. Frelinghuysen, Lowey, McCaul, Yoder, Pascrell, Meng, Donovan and Thompson,” Diament added. “While we wish this program were not necessary, we are grateful for the work of DHS and the support of key legislators to provide the needed security resources.”

William Daroff — senior vice president for public policy and director of the Washington office of the Jewish Federations of North America – said, “Since September 11, nonprofits generally, and Jewish communal institutions specifically, have been the victim of an alarming number of threats and attacks. The NSGP is helpful to deal with those threats through resources for target hardening and the integration of nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts.”