Police beef up patrols across Long Island following multiple bomb threats to synagogues
A total of five temples in Nassau and Suffolk received the email bomb threat over the last two days.
Sep 19, 2023, 6:32 AM
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Police are stepping up patrols across Long Island after multiple bomb threats were emailed to synagogues during the Jewish high holy days.
A total of five temples in Nassau and Suffolk received the email bomb threat over the last two days.
Police say similar emails were also sent to Long Island MacArthur Airport.
The temples were all evacuated and searched, and the threats turned out to be fake.
“It's disturbing because it's a measure of what's going on in the world in terms of antisemitism and a level of bullying and violence that is going on in the world,” said Rabbi Beth Klafter of Temple Beth David.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says they are stepping up patrols around synagogues and that there have been similar threats throughout the United States.
He says it is an organized group of threats around the country that has probably targeted over 100 synagogues.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announces a state action plan Tuesday to combat antisemitism. The plan includes improved bias data collection, expanded victim support and new hate crime investigate seminars.
“We are paying attention because you cannot ignore the seeds of hate,” Hochul said.
Jewish leaders from across Long Island say they do not want the threats to change the message of the high holiday days.
“Our message for the holy days is about having pride in the Jewish faith and coming together as a community,” says Rabbi Deborah Bravo, of MakomNY.
