A synagogue in the Orange County city of Fullerton was evacuated on August 12 due to a fake bomb threat.
City News Service (CNS) reported that Fullerton police had been notified by the Los Angeles Police Department that a bomb was going to explode in Temple Beth Tikvah; after police evacuated the temple, no explosive device was found. Fullerton police also said that the synagogue received a call from a man that was “certainly antisemitic in nature” but “did not rise to the point of being criminal in nature.”
“Sadly, this is something that many temples, many Jewish houses of worship… have to live with,” Temple Beth Tikvah Rabbi Mati Kirschenbaum told CNS.
A similar incident occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area, as on August 11 Beth Torah Jewish Temple in Fremont was evacuated over a potential bomb threat, only to find nothing suspicious inside.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a statement on August 12 saying that at least 26 synagogues and two ADL offices have been targeted by “online trolls who swat and call in fake bomb threats targeting synagogues” these past four weekends.
The ADL also noted that the trolls “appear to be targeting synagogues that livestream their services.” According to CNS, Temple Beth Tikvah’s services on August 12 were being livestreamed on Facebook.
“The ADL Center on Extremism continues to work with law enforcement to determine the source or sources of these troubling and potentially dangerous activities,” the ADL’s statement read.
— ADL (@ADL) August 13, 2023
Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “These anti-Semitic attacks are totally reprehensible. I appreciate ADL working with law enforcement to solve and informing the public. I hope these criminals are found, held accountable and given the max punishment allowed.”
These anti-Semitic attacks are totally reprehensible. I appreciate ADL working with law enforcement to solve and informing the public. I hope these criminals are found, held accountable and given the max punishment allowed. @ADL @JGreenblattADL @AIPAC https://t.co/AD8kOYylro
— Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸 (@RepDonBacon) August 13, 2023
The Simon Wiesenthal Center similarly posted on X, “The outrageous is becoming commonplace. Acts of #Antisemitism and threats, online and in our streets have become the norm. There must be accountability for the perpetrators and Jews must secure their synagogues and schools.”
The outrageous is becoming commonplace. Acts of #Antisemitism and threats, online and in our streets have become the norm. There must be accountability for the perpetrators and Jews must secure their synagogues and schools.https://t.co/dl6j5XD9BL
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) August 14, 2023
