All articles tagged with #synagogues
In Paris, three synagogues, a restaurant, and a Holocaust memorial were vandalized with green paint, amid rising antisemitism linked to ongoing conflicts in Gaza, prompting calls for increased security measures within Jewish communities.
John Reardon, a man from Millis, Massachusetts, is facing federal charges for allegedly threatening to kill Jewish community members and bomb synagogues. He is accused of leaving antisemitic voicemails at a synagogue and making threatening calls to other Jewish places of worship. If convicted, Reardon could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Hundreds of synagogues and Jewish organizations across the U.S. received false bomb threats via email over the weekend, prompting a nationwide investigation by the FBI. No explosives have been found, and no suspects have been arrested. The Jewish nonprofit Secure Community Network recorded over 200 threats in 24 hours, with incidents reported in at least 17 states and Washington, D.C. The threats are believed to be part of a broader hoax to terrorize Jewish communities. The increase in threats and antisemitic activity has raised concerns for the safety and security of the Jewish community in North America.
Jews in communities around the world gathered at synagogues for Shabbat services amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, expressing grief and praying for peace. Rabbis led prayers and shared the trauma experienced by Jewish communities, particularly in Pittsburgh, which was scarred by an antisemitic attack in 2018. Security was tight at many synagogues, and congregants expressed a mix of anger, sadness, and resilience. Similar services were held in the US, Germany, Indonesia, and Miami Beach, with calls for peace and unity among different faiths.
Jewish and Palestinian Muslim communities in the United States are feeling grief and apprehension following the recent Hamas attack on Israeli civilians and Israel's subsequent reprisals in Gaza. Synagogues and mosques have increased security measures, and trauma experts have been invited to speak to congregants. Despite the tension, worshippers are seeking spiritual and emotional connection, with synagogues expecting higher turnout for Friday night services. Jewish and Muslim leaders are reaching out to support each other, offering sympathies and expressing solidarity in the face of loss and suffering.
Synagogues and police forces in the Chicago area are on high alert after Hamas leadership called for a "Day of Rage." A temple in Skokie received a bomb threat and was evacuated, but no explosives were found. The threat was posted on social media, coinciding with a canceled pro-Palestinian rally. The synagogue hopes this incident won't be the first of many hate crimes as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues. Security will be increased in several suburbs, and Chicago police are paying special attention to synagogues and mosques.
Antisemitic protests were held at two synagogues in Georgia, with demonstrators waving Nazi flags and shouting hate speech. The incidents come after the Anti-Defamation League reported a surge in antisemitic incidents in the US in 2022. Georgia lawmakers and community leaders have condemned the protests and called for an end to antisemitism. The targeted synagogues are working with law enforcement to ensure the safety of their patrons, while community members have counterprotested against the demonstrators.