Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America was represented at the White House swearing in ceremony of the new director of the White House Office of Homeland Security, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. Nathan Diament, director of the Union’s Institute for Public Affairs attended the ceremony on behalf of the Union.

The new Office of Homeland Security and the related Homeland Security Council are President Bush’s initiatives to ensure better coordination and preparedness against terrorism attacks in the domestic United States in the wake of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

Following the East Room ceremony that was attended by federal cabinet secretaries and other senior administration officials, Nathan Diament spoke with Mr. Ridge, as well as Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller, and offered the support of the Union and its constituency in the new homefront war against terrorism.

Diament also issued the following statement:

The Orthodox Jewish community welcomes President Bush’s efforts to fight international terrorism and protect American citizens from such dastardly attacks. The Office of Homeland Security and the appointment of Tom Ridge to lead that office are critical steps in this effort and we are committed to supporting the President and Director Ridge in any way we can.