J Street is deeply alarmed by the nationwide campaign of bomb threats targeting over two dozen synagogues and Jewish organizations. One recent incident on the evening of Friday, September 9 forced the evacuation of Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, California, where J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami and Representative Anna Eshoo were speaking, with hundreds of people in attendance.
These frightening, anonymous phoned-in threats against Jewish communities have become alarmingly common in recent weeks. While thankfully no one has yet been hurt, the threats are clearly intended to have an intimidating and deeply unsettling effect on Jewish Americans, disrupting services, public events and communal life.
J Street stands in solidarity with all the communities, synagogues and organizations that have been disrupted and terrorized by these threats, and with all Jewish Americans facing down the surge in antisemitism and white nationalism over the past few years.
We echo and appreciate the words shared with us by Congresswoman Eshoo, following the disruption of her joint event with J Street on Friday: “I’ve always considered it an honor to represent the Beth Am congregation in Los Altos Hills and have joined their prayer services over the years in good times and sad. It was heartbreaking for me to witness the evacuation of the Temple on Friday evening at the conclusion of the prayer service. Families and children threatened with great harm, generated by hate. We all need to renew our commitment to stand against antisemitism. Their faith has deepened mine.”
We will continue to advocate for and support policies and initiatives to combat antisemitism, confront hate, and keep our Jewish communities strong, safe and supported.