Grassley, Fetterman urge Treasury to implement whistleblower program to combat terror financing
(JNS) — Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) are urging the U.S. Department of the Treasury to accelerate a long-delayed whistleblower program to expose money laundering and terrorist financing.
In a letter sent to Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury secretary, and Andrea Gacki, director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, on Feb. 3, the lawmakers said that “an effective FinCEN whistleblower program is a critical tool for America’s ongoing fight against terrorists, drug-traffickers and sanctioned state actors who are threats to our national security.”
Congress created the program more than five years ago, but Grassley and Fetterman stated that FinCEN has yet to finalize the regulations or establish a dedicated website for whistleblowers to submit tips.
The senators urged the agency to “finalize its rules and expeditiously pay out awards to incentivize future whistleblowers and stop the flow of illicit funds to criminal cartels, terrorists and sanctioned state actors.”
“Kremlin cronies, North Korea and Iran continue to find loopholes in our sanctions and money laundering compliance system,” they added, noting that they introduced a bipartisan Art Market Integrity Act in July to require “money-laundering compliance by art dealers and auction houses.”
“This bill would close a loophole that allows illicit funds to flow through the over $25 billion domestic art market,” Grassley and Fetterman wrote.
Major Jewish orgs mum, as left-wing ones laud Phylisa Wisdom, named head of NYC Antisemitism office
(JNS) — Mainstream Jewish organizations were silent after Jewish media reported that Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York City, named Phylisa Wisdom the new head of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.
Wisdom, executive director of the New York Jewish Agenda, a progressive group, has been critical of Chassidic schools, which she has said don’t provide adequate secular education. Many Chassidic leaders have accused her of being anti-Chassidic.
“Picking Phylisa Wisdom to run an office tasked with combating antisemitism is probably the biggest gaslighting Mamdani has done so far,” stated Yaakov Kaplan, vice-chair of Brooklyn Community Board 12.
“90% of all antisemitic attacks were against Orthodox Jews,” he wrote. “Picking someone for this office that Orthodox Jews see as an adversary is mind-boggling.”
Jonathan Kopp, chair of the New York City chapter of J Street, which describes itself as “pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy,” stated that Wisom is a “smart, strategic and effective leader in New York City’s Jewish communal life” and “a great pick for this important position at this critical moment.”
The progressive group Bend the Arc: Jewish Action called Wisdom “a perfect choice.”
“Phylisa understands the threat of antisemitism and how to fight it in solidarity with our neighbors,” it said. “We’re thrilled to see her take on a position in the mayor’s office.”
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) said he was “thrilled” at the choice.
Dem leaders pledge Jewish security
(JTA) — National Democratic leaders vowed to champion security funding for Jewish institutions while slamming federal spending on immigration enforcement at an annual congressional event held by JCRC-NY.
The breakfast meeting convened on Feb. 1 at Park East Synagogue, the site of a pro-Palestinian protest in November that drew allegations of antisemitism and spurred a slew of policy proposals.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the Republican-led One Big Beautiful Bill Act for granting $191 billion to the Department of Homeland Security, including $75 billion for ICE, reported The Forward.
“If that can happen, then the least that we can do is ensure that this vital security grant program is funded by hundreds of millions of dollars more to keep the Jewish community and every other community safe,” said Jeffries.
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which funds security at houses of worship, has recently experienced turmoil amid federal budget freezes and new terms requiring grantees to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
Major Jewish organizations want to boost their security funding from $270 million to $500 million annually amid rising antisemitic threats. Jeffries said House Democrats supported that increase.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer added, “As long as I’m in the Senate, this program will continue to grow from strength to strength, and we won’t let anyone attack it or undo it.”
Justice Department files new terror charges against alleged killer of Israeli embassy staffers
(JNS) — Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney general, announced new terrorism charges against Elias Rodriguez, of Chicago, who is accused of killing Israeli embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington on May 21, 2025.
A new 13-count indictment, which the Justice Department said was unsealed in U.S. District Court on Feb. 4, includes four terrorism charges. “Several of the charges filed against Rodriguez carry a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment,” the department said.
Rodriguez, 31, was previously charged with killing a foreign official, gun offenses, federal hate crime charges and two counts of first-degree, premeditated murder.
“My office will not rest in our efforts to hold Elias Rodriguez accountable for this horrific and targeted act of terror against Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim and our Jewish community,” Pirro stated.
Darren Cox, assistant FBI director in charge of the Washington Field Office, stated that “in addition to allegedly murdering two innocent people and terrorizing the survivors of his attack at the Capital Jewish Museum, Rodriguez wrote and published a manifesto attempting to morally justify his actions and inspire others to commit political violence.”
“His alleged actions warrant the additional terrorism charges being announced today,” Cox said.
Boston-area Jewish day school to close after 25 years, saying its model is ‘no longer sustainable’
(JTA) — For two decades, MetroWest Jewish Day School eked out an existence in the suburbs of Boston, providing what parents say was a warm and nurturing Jewish education to just dozens of children.
Now, the school says it simply cannot go on. MetroWest will shutter at the end of the academic year, officials announced last week.
“Despite extensive and sustained efforts by our Board, school leadership, faculty, staff, and committed community members to identify a viable path forward, we have concluded that our model of highly individualized Jewish day school education is no longer sustainable,” wrote board chair Steven Finn.
Located in Framingham, Massachusetts, MetroWest Jewish Day opened in 2003 and enrolls students in pre-K through eighth grade. In its closure announcement, the school said it has served more than 300 students from over 30 towns in the greater Boston area over 25 years.
Currently, there are only about 20 students enrolled across all grades, school officials said. The school’s website shows 15 faculty and staff members.
“It’s a well-respected school,” Cohen told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “But in the end, if there’s not a demand for the product, the quality of the product doesn’t necessarily matter.”
The closure follows a spate of recent closures of small Conservative or pluralistic Jewish day schools across the country, including in New Jersey, New York City and Arizona.
