Fwd: News From Agudas Yisroel 13 Tammuz 5781/June 23, 2021

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Agudath Israel of America <news@agudah.org>
Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 5:06 PM
Subject: News From Agudas Yisroel 13 Tammuz 5781/June 23, 2021
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

Take Action Now!

Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. June 23, 2021 - 13 Tammuz 5781 News from the Agudah:  Take Action Now! urge your Senators to sign on to the Portman-Gillibrand bipartisan letter and support funding for shuls, yeshivas, and other high risk targets. See below for more details and to take action. On a similar note, Agudath Israel of America has announced its support for the bipartisan Pray Safe Act, which would help faith-based organizations and houses of worship access information on safety and security best practices, federal grants, and training programs. See below for more details  In other security related news, last week our New York Government Affairs Director, Rabbi Yeruchim Silber visited New York FBI headquarters, working on fighting hate crimes. See below for a picture. The Iyunim B'hilchos Shabbos will continue this week. See below for this week's schedule. Action Alert: Urge your Senators to Sign Letter to Increase Security Grant Funding Click here or on the image above to take action. Dear Agudah Activist: Several weeks ago, I contacted you about an extraordinary opportunity our community has to help take a significant step forward in saving lives. We were gratified by your response then, but we need your help again. Congress is currently considering FY2022 appropriations legislation that could meaningfully boost the ongoing effort to improve security for our community institutions – shuls, yeshivas, religious facilities, charitable and social service organizations – within the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). Under NSGP, nonprofits are provided up to $100,000 worth of assistance for various types of equipment and for personnel to better secure entities at high risk of terrorist attack. Having experienced increasing threats and incidents of anti-Semitic violence we all know that the Jewish community has a strong stake in this program and must vigorously support current efforts to strengthen it. Action has moved from the House to the Senate. We were very pleased at the community response when we reached out to you to for help on the House side. Now we need your help with your Senators. A bipartisan letter is now being circulated by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to members of the Senate calling on Senate Appropriations Committee leadership to bolster the FY2022 allocation for NSGP. The letter emphasizes the need for stronger funding levels and the increasing threats facing at-risk faith and community-based nonprofits from hate-motivated extremists. The more who sign on to the letter, the stronger the Senate shows its commitment to this goal and the better the likelihood it will pass. We must support the Portman-Gillibrand letter and urge as many of our Senators nationwide to sign on. Click here to urge your Senators to sign on to the Portman-Gillibrand bipartisan letter and support bolstered NSGP Funding. Alert: Deadline is COB June 24! We know that our grassroots advocacy can make a difference. Agudath Israel and other organizations fought hard to create and maintain the NSGP program. National and local involvement, working together, brought the program to where it is today, and we can move it further ahead. Thank you for your help and support! Rabbi Abba Cohen Vice President for Government Affairs Washington Director and Counsel Agudath Israel Endorses Pray Safe Act as Valuable Step in Protecting Houses of Worship and Faith-Based Institutions  Agudath Israel of America has announced its support for the bipartisan Pray Safe Act, introduced by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). This act, if passed, will help faith-based organizations and houses of worship access information on safety and security best practices, federal grants, and training programs.   "One of the most effective ways of protecting houses of worship and other faith-based institutions is in the gathering of as much information as possible and in learning from the experiences of others," said Rabbi Abba Cohen, vice president for government affairs and Washington director of Agudath Israel of America.  "With these valuable tools in hand, religious communities can devise plans and strategies that will best utilize equipment, personnel, procedures, and other mechanisms to better secure our facilities. Agency coordination on the federal level and the creation of an information clearinghouse will go far in achieving this vital lifesaving goal," he continued.  "We commend Senators Rob Portman and Maggie Hassan for putting the Pray Safe Act forward and pledge our support and our commitment to working together with them to have this legislation enacted."  Rabbi Yeruchim Silber at New York FBI HQ Iyunim B'hilchos Shabbos The shiurim will continue this week with the access information as follows:  The Zoom access link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83528677424 and the call in number is 1-646-558-8656, access code: 835-286-77424. View as Webpage

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