As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, in the United States several Islamic organizations, Jewish temples and even schools have received threats. Voice of America correspondent Veronica Balderas Iglesias reports on the causes of increased tensions and the efforts of these communities to prevent danger.
For the first time in two decades, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, was forced to move its annual banquet to an undisclosed location because of threats over its stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
“The hotel informed us that it was receiving numerous threats for placing bombs in the garage, for possible attacks against it. These threats came from anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian extremists who are angry about our organization’s support for Palestinian rights,” said CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell.
As the American Jewish Committee reports, some synagogues have also had to suspend services due to bomb threats related to the war in the Middle East.
Samantha Woll, board president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, who was found stabbed to death in her Detroit home on October 21, had ties to the organization.
Police have found no evidence that it was a hate crime, but the investigation is ongoing and Jewish leaders have increased security.
“People are trying hard to keep their personal information from being made public. It’s a moment when we have to be really careful and attentive,” says Melanie Maron Pell of the American Jewish Committee.
The fear is also affecting some Muslim educational facilities, the National League of Islamic Schools of America told VOA.
“On Friday, an Islamic school in the Chicago area received detailed threats against its community and decided to offer distance learning. In an effort to create safe spaces for students, teachers in the upper grades are talking to students about their feelings,” said Islamic School League of America Executive Director Shaza Khan.
Jewish schools are actively seeking more funding to strengthen their security measures.
“Some of the actions that the institutions are undertaking is the installation of shatterproof windows and other security measures. // We also call on religious and political leaders around the world to condemn anti-Semitism, condemn Islamophobia, condemn violence and hate speech and not encourage it,” says Dan Mitzner of the Learn Coalition, project of the Jewish Orthodox Union.
In addition to the Israel-Hamas war, interviewees told VOA that anxiety in the Jewish community is increasing as a painful anniversary approaches:
Friday marks five years since the anti-Semitic terrorist attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The perpetrator of the crime was sentenced to death. Mr Mitzner says authorities are working hard to ensure communities remain safe.