2004-12-27-Jewish community-Homeland Security |
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homeland security grants, church-state separation |
Tina Friedman, community
relations director of the United
Jewish Federation, said DHS has allocated $320,885 to help finance
anti-terrorist improvements for “high-risk
non-profit organizations in San Diego County.
This pot of money will be divided among eligible Jewish community
institutions and various non-Jewish institutions that apply for it, she said. Morris Casuto, ADL
regional director in San Diego, said his organization declined to support the
legislation that authorized such federal expenditures because, in ADL’s
opinion, it violates the constitutional wall between church and state.
Further, he said, it may set
a precedent for future attempts by the government to underwrite religious
programs. Casuto said the Union for
Reform Judaism took a similar position. Sam Sokolove, AJC’s
regional director in San Diego, declined immediate comment on the controversy. Friedman said that those
who support the legislation believe that protecting the lives of people who come
to the buildings is important—be they Jews or Gentiles.
The United Jewish Federation employs non-Jews, as do synagogues around
the county, she said. Therefore
money given to a synagogue is not for the protection of a single religious
group, it is for everyone’s protection, she said. Casuto said as the agency
that strongly advises Jewish institutions to protect themselves, ADL sympathizes
with those who want stronger security. However, he said, the ADL also is mindful
of the “exceedingly important constitutional consideration—given what we
believe to be the ongoing attack on the wall separating church and state.
Taking this money will come back to haunt us.” Casuto added that the
money under the legislation has to be used for very specific purposes such as
erecting concrete barriers, hardening walls and making windows blast
proof—steps to guard against a bombing. He
said other kinds of security expenditures, such as for cameras, motion sensors,
and the like, are not considered eligible under the grant. If hardening the premises
is necessary, Casuto said, then Jewish institutions ought to raise the money for
it themselves. Friedman countered that
protecting lives is a priority in the Jewish community, and “we’re talking
about keeping people safe here.” |