When one person drills a hole in the boat, the whole boat sinks.
BOMB THREATS ON MONDAY, FEB. 27
› Temple Beth El, Charlotte, N.C.› Siegel Jewish Community Center, Wilmington, Del.› Asheville Jewish Community Center, Asheville, N.C.› Levite Jewish Community Center, Birmingham, Ala.› York Jewish Community Center, York, Penn.› Harrisburg Jewish Community Center, Harrisburg, Penn.› Jewish Federation of South Jersey, Cherry Hill, N.J.› Katz Jewish Community Center, Cherry Hill, N.J.› Jewish Community Center, Staten Island, N.Y.› David Posnack Jewish Day School, Davie, Fla.› Jewish Community Center, Indianapolis, Ind.› Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center, Plainview, N.Y.› Jewish Community Center on the Hudson, Tarrytown, N.Y.› Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor, Mich.› Gesher Jewish Day School, Fairfax, Va.› Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Rockville, Md.
Although no bomb threats or cemetery descrations have taken place against Jews in Chattanooga, local rabbis say they still have concerns.
Although no bomb threats or cemetery descrations have taken place against Jews in Chattanooga, local rabbis say they still have concerns.
When graves in a Jewish cemetery in St. Louis were vandalized two weeks ago, the pain flowed into the B’Nai Zion Congregation in Chattanooga.
“We actually have a congregant whose family is buried in that cemetery in St. Louis,” says Rabbi Susan Tendler.
That incident, along with similar desecration of graves in Philadelphia and 16 bomb threats around the country on Monday are all indications of rise in the level of hate that Jews – and others – have noticed in the last several months, Tendler says.
“It’s on everybody’s mind. Everybody is cognizant of it and aware. The Jewish community feels it. We feel the increased hatred. My rabbi friends have talked and written about how it is affecting their schools and their congregations.
“I don’t believe we’ve felt this level of anti-Semitism in the last 50 years.”
The bomb threats against Jewish institutions on Monday were the fifth round of them since January.
Tendler says she and synagogue officials have met with Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher to talk about increasing security measures and to make sure they have the best safety procedures in place.
Rabbi Shaul Perlstein with the Chabad Jewish Center of Chattanooga says he also has met with local authorities to discuss safety issues. He also is concerned about the recent spate of incidents, but believes law enforcement is well aware of the looming threat and is taking appropriate steps.
“We trust that the authorities will handle things, and we have seen a tremendous amount of support,” Perlstein says. “At the same time that we see a little darkness, we see a lot of light.”
Tendler says the noticeable increase in the lack of civility began during the presidential election and seems to have increased since President Donald Trump took office. Until his speech before Congress on Tuesday, “the president had not spoken out about concerns in the Jewish or Islamic community,” Tendler notes.
Perlstein says he spends little or no time trying to figure out how or even why something like the cemetery desecrations or bom threats happen. Instead, he tries to focus on how to prevent them from happening again.
“I tend to steer the conversation in a more positive way,” he says. “What can we do to work together? When one person drills a hole in the boat, the whole boat sinks.”
Tendler echoes those feelings.
“We have to stand together and offer love.”
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.