Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – commended Governor Bob Ehrlich of Maryland for his continued commitment to providing federal homeland security funds administered by the state to Jewish community institutions for the purpose of upgrading their physical security in the face of potential terrorist threats.

Gov. Ehrlich visited Congregation Bnai Tzedek in Potomac MD, this afternoon, where he plans to announce $30,000 in new homeland security funding for Jewish institutions in Montgomery County, including an $8000 grant to the Orthodox congregation – Young Israel/Shomrei Emunah of Silver Spring.

Nathan Diament, public policy director for the Union, stated: “The Jewish community is deeply appreciative of Gov. Ehrlich’s commitment to protecting our community’s institutions. Gov. Ehrlich has been the trailblazer in this arena as the first governor in the nation to make federal homeland security funds administered by a state available to secure the safety of Jewish institutions. We hope that other state and local governments will follow his example and provide funding to secure their at-risk Jewish institutions as well. We thank Gov. Ehrlich for his continuing support.”