ORTHODOX UNION COMMENDS ANTI-TERROR ARRESTS IN OPERATION REGARDING ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE

21 May 2009

ORTHODOX UNION COMMENDS ANTI-TERROR ARRESTS IN OPERATION REGARDING ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE
Joint operation underscores threat to vulnerable synagogues and other nonprofits.
Today, the Orthodox Union (Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, commended the FBI, NYPD and New York State Police, who in a joint operation, arrested four men who had planned to bomb a Bronx synagogue and attack National Guard planes. The synagogue threatened, the Riverdale Jewish Center, is a member of the Orthodox Union.
OU President Stephen J. Savitsky and Executive Vice President Rabbi Steven Weil stated:
“This sting operation, thankfully, speaks to the professionalism of our law enforcement officials — and we commend the FBI special agents, the NYPD officers and New York State Police –for their efforts to protect New Yorkers. Sadly, it also underscores the continued threat Jewish institutions are under and the need to ensure they have all they need to protect themselves from terrorist attack.”
The Orthodox Union, along with its partners,including United Jewish Communities, UJA- Federation of New York and others have taken the lead in working to ensure the continued availability of federal grant funding through DHS’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (part of the UASI funding). (Recently, President Obama announced the program would be included in the President’s proposed budget, and funded at $15 million.)

www.ou.org/public_affairs