Rabbi Abba Cohen Appointed to DHS Faith-Based Security Advisory Council

Rabbi Abba Cohen, Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director of Agudath Israel of America, has been recently appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC).

According to its July 2020 charter, FBSAC was established as a standing committee for the purpose of providing advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security in regard to matters of security concerning faith-based communities, such as protecting houses of worship, preventing and responding to terrorist attacks and other emergencies, and how to best leverage existing security programs. DHS officials have indicated that the Council will begin its work in the next few weeks, during the Biden Administration.

For almost two decades, Rabbi Cohen and Agudath Israel have been heavily involved in liaising with government agencies, and assisting local communities, in assessing and addressing dangers facing Jewish individuals and institutions. Recent years have seen several incidents of bloodshed and violence at synagogues and a dramatic uptick in anti-Semitic incidents.

In a statement, Rabbi Cohen said, “I am honored to have been appointed to the DHS Faith-Based Security Advisory Council to help address this most vital and compelling issue. I look forward to working together with incoming Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to better protect communities of faith.”

This content, and any other content on TLS, may not be republished or reproduced without prior permission from TLS. Copying or reproducing our content is both against the law and against Halacha. To inquire about using our content, including videos or photos, email us at [email protected].

Stay up to date with our news alerts by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

**Click here to join over 20,000 receiving our Whatsapp Status updates!**

**Click here to join the official TLS WhatsApp Community!**

Got a news tip? Email us at [email protected], Text 415-857-2667, or WhatsApp 609-661-8668.