Bottom line: We don’t know when the formal application period will commence, but the submission period is likely to be shorter than in previous years. Download last year’s Investment Justification document and get started now. The changes in the Investment Justification should be minimal, if any. 

Update from Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).

Votes Today: First the House and then the Senate are expected to take up the full year spending bill (HR 1473) today.  There is a closed rule in the House, limiting the vote to up or down without amendments.  60 votes will be necessary to pass it in the Senate.

The measure provides $1.055 trillion in discretionary funding for FY 2011, $39.9 billion less than in FY 2010.  The total includes $12 billion in cuts already agreed to in three other continuing resolutions, and represents the largest annual reduction in U.S. history. 

For Homeland Security Programs: Overall funding of $41.8 billion (2% below FY2010 levels), represents the first annual spending reduction in the department’s history.  The President’s request did not seek funding for NSGP.  While the overall allocation for the UASI program was $725 million (down from $887 million in FY2010), we were able to secure full/flat funding of $19 million for NSGP.

The suspect in the Santa Monica bombing was arrested yesterday. The backstory is interesting:

1. He arrived in Cleveland and went to an Orthodox synagogue, asked to see the rabbi. His story was compelling . . .he was traveling to NYC for treatment at Sloan-Kettering and needed a meal and a place to stay. 
2. Most of the synagogue members do not watch TV or view the internet, so the suspect was not immediately recognized by the rabbi or other members. Complicating matters, the suspect knew that his picture was published and he had trimmed his beard. Fortunately, one of the members had seen the picture on a Jewish news blog. Although the member wasn’t positive that the individual was indeed the suspect, the member eventually called the appropriate law enforcement officials.

Lessons learned:

1. Get information. Jewish institutions should be receiving regular notifications and alerts from their local law enforcement officials and other sources. This is especially true in communities that don’t usually monitor the media. Someone should be sharing such information with others in the congregation.
2. Give tzedakah, but use common sense. Many of us have been suspicious of “schnorers”. Jewish tradition encourages us to be generous and we should be. At the same time, we should give in an appropriate fashion.
• Don’t offer home hospitality or hospitality in a synagogue unless someone comes with a verifiable reference (e.g., rabbi to rabbi) — and you verify it! In this case the suspect could not offer a reference, so the rabbi arranged for a room in a local motel.
• Don’t give anyone your credit card number (I know that this sounds obvious but people have been burned). 
3. If it “Just doesn’t look right” it probably isn’t. People can and do make up convincing stories. Look for verifiable details and double check items that can be confirmed.

JCRC and its law enforcement partners try to convey the latest and best information possible. The explosion outside the Chabad synagogue in Santa Monica demonstrates the difficulty of disseminating information in real time makes us think about “lessons learned.”

1. Problem. Initial reports are often sketchy and sometimes wrong. What should I do? Lesson learned: JCRC will continue its policy to disseminate the best information possible to Jewish organizations after verifying media reports with official confirmation. Organizations are also urged to subscribe to their local police and/or emergency management notification lists. 
2. Problem. It’s difficult to act on sketchy information. Lesson learned: It’s best to act out of an abundance of caution until more information is received. Have a plan in place. Upon hearing a report about a possible attack on a Jewish target it’s best to ramp up security precautions and vigilance. You can always return to normal levels when there is an all clear.
3. Problem. Should I worry about the security of my institution when there is a minor incident 3,000 miles away? Lesson learned: Any single event may be the first of a planned series (think 9/11) or signal a copycat to try something somewhere else. Operating out of an abundance of caution is warranted. 
4. Problem. The Santa Monica incident does not seem to be anti-Semitic. Should we rest easy? Lesson Learned. Most violent incidents involve disgruntled employees, alienated students, domestic disputes and the like. Jewish organizations are not immune and attacks for any of these reasons have the potential of being just as deadly as a terrorist attack. Fortunately, the strategies used to counter and respond to all such situations are remarkably similar.
5. Problem. This is all so overwhelming where do you start? Lesson learned. Find suggestions at: https://jcrcny2022.wpengine.com/library/security-emergency.html. 

From NYPD Shield:

Local authorities are stating that the explosion that occurred near a synagogue in Santa Monica, California, was caused by a utility line.

From NYPD Shield:

News agencies are reporting there was an explosion outside a synagogue in Santa Monica, California. There are no immediate reports of injuries and local police have not confirmed the cause of the explosion or if the temple was deliberately targeted. We will continue to monitor this event and will advise of any new information that has been confirmed by local authorities.

 Read more in the Los Angeles Times.

The Chabad of Santa Monica website reports:

In response to news reports of a pipe bomb in our facility. During morning services today the police department came to Chabad House in response to a report of an explosion. The men that were praying did not hear or feel anything. Rabbi Levitansky grabbed on of the new Torah scrolls so they can finish services. Which they did at the corner of 17th and S. Monica.