Counties in Texas on High Alert After Antisemitic Propaganda Discovered

The sight of decorations, lights, and packages on doorsteps is appreciated and considered a routine occurrence during the holiday season. Unfortunately, some in Corsicana and other Navarro County communities have also had to pick up antisemitic propaganda off of their lawns.

The flyers contain antisemitic imagery and blame a multitude of issues on the Jewish community. The propaganda mentions a website which connects to a series of videos that spread similar messages.

Corsicana and Navarro County law enforcement officers are aware of the incidents and are increasing patrols in order to deter the activity from continuing.

The Corsicana Police Department encourages residents to report any paraphernalia they find.

The exterior and interior of Corsicana’s Temple Beth-El, located at 208 South 15th St., is monitored on a daily basis by the Corsicana Parks Department, said the city’s Director of Parks and Recreation, Sharla Allen.

The Temple was designated a recorded Texas Landmark in 1981, it was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1987. The Temple continues to host monthly religious services as well as other gatherings.

However inaccurate or insulting these flyers might be, they are examples of free speech and expression which is protected by the United States Constitution.

“These people aren’t breaking the law by distributing flyers on lawns, although local authorities are watching to see if any laws are broken,” White said.

White cautioned against engaging anyone who drops the flyers or espouses hateful rhetoric.

“These groups are looking to engage with on the street actions. They troll people and look to gain support by driving people to their websites.”

Rabbi Frank Joseph, who conducts services at the Temple, said these incidents don’t represent the feelings of the majority in Corsicana and surrounding communities.

“The individuals who are spreading this material are misguided,” Joseph said. This is a small group out of California with few followers, they intend on spreading hate in Corsicana,” he continued.

“The individuals that are doing this do not represent the cordial and welcoming community of Corsicana,” said Joseph.

Joseph, who now splits his time between Fort Worth and Southern Texas, maintains a deep affection for Corsicana.

His father Ernest Joseph served as Rabbi of Corsicana’s Temple Beth-El from 1966-1999.

“My father escaped Nazi-Germany in 1939, he immigrated to the United States in 1947, and settled in Corsicana in 1956,” Joseph said. “He saw the worst levels of antisemitism and understood where it leads.”

Joseph said that it’s because of his father’s teachings that he encourages everyone to love one another and to learn from history so the Holocaust is never again allowed to happen.

Prominent Connecticut School Accused Bribing Family who Reported Antisemitism

A father in Connecticut has gone public with a personal story involving his son, who he says was the victim of antisemitism at school.

The father, Andrew Goldberg, said bullying at Coleytown Middle School took a hateful turn in a September incident that resulted in shocking antisemitism directed at his seventh-grade son.

"The phrases that were being used were, 'We must exterminate the Jews,'" recalled Goldberg about the insults told to his son. "Or that my son was invited to join Camp Auschwitz, where 'they had great showers.'"

Goldberg met with administrators who told him they would implement a safety plan.

He says rather than just punish the students involved, he wanted the Westport School District to use the incident as a teachable moment given the sharp rise in antisemitism since the start of the war in Gaza.

"We pleaded and asked the school over and over, 'What are you going to do to protect our son,'" said Goldberg.

Instead of suing, the Goldbergs reached an agreement with the school district to help cover the cost of enrolling their son in private Jewish school. But the deal was contingent on the family not discussing the circumstances or face a $15,000 penalty.

Ultimately, the parents walked away from what they call hush money.

"You tried to buy our silence, and what you did was reprehensible and immoral, " said mother Leslie Derkash.

From speaking at a school board meeting to writing about the incident in Newsweek, the family went very public.

The Board of Education says the article "grossly mischaracterizes the response and actions of our school leadership."

"The district has zero tolerance for antisemitism and zero tolerance for any form of hate," said Westport School Superintendent Thomas Scarice.

California Synagogue Targeted with Bomb Threats

A San Luis Obispo synagogue was among more than 400 Jewish facilities across the country to receive a bomb threat over the weekend, according to a social media post from the local NAACP chapter.

In San Luis Obispo, Congregation Beth David was the target of one such bomb threat, according to an Instagram post from the San Luis Obispo County chapter of the NAACP on Tuesday night.

“Thankfully, none of these threats resulted in any loss of life,” the post read, “but the terror inflicted on members of the Jewish community is nevertheless quite real and harmful.”

In a statement, NAACP chapter president Tobin Johnson said the organization extends its sympathy toward the Beth David Congregation and “reaffirms its support for the common values of the Congregation and the NAACP.”

Johnson said the group stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in condemning this act of terror.

“It is not lost on us that the same groups that target the Jewish community with these hateful acts are the very groups that espouse and act on other forms of bigotry and racism of which people of color are frequently targeted.”

Congregation Beth David has not posted a statement on its social media regarding the threat.

Reports of antisemitism and Islamophobia have risen across the United States since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas — a Palestinian militant group — that killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly Israeli citizens.

Since then, nearly 20,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, and more than 52,500 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The California Blackshirts, a white supremacy group that has frequented San Luis Obispo County, distributed escalated antisemitic flyers in Templeton and San Luis Obispo one week after the Oct. 7 attack.

Canadian College Students Apprehended After Placing Swastika on a Locker

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is investigating after two students allegedly placed a swastika on a locker at Algonquin College's Ottawa campus earlier this month.

A memo sent to faculty and students by the college's director of risk management Paul Gardner said security services responded and 'apprehended' the two students responsible for the alleged act of vandalism.

"Algonquin has a zero-tolerance policy for hate-related activities on College campuses. Our College’s Risk Management team will remain vigilant to ensure the safety and security of our campuses," the memo said.

"Reports of antisemitism, Islamophobia, intimidation, threats, harassment, or violence are treated very seriously by our institution."

The memo says a thorough investigation was completed and the matter is being dealt with through the school's disciplinary process. CTV News reached out to Algonquin College who said they could not provide further details.

OPS said in an emailed statement that it received a report by the college on Dec. 18 about the incident which occurred at an unspecified date earlier this month.

The incident is now under investigation by the OPS Hate and Bias Crime Unit.

Police did not provide details on the suspects or whether arrests have been made.

The school is encouraging school faculty and students to immediately reach out to the college's security services if they witness or become aware of any hate-related incidents.

Third Pennsylvania University Added to List of Schools Under Investigation for Antisemitism

Drexel University in Philadelphia is being added to the list of schools under investigation for alleged discrimination on campus.

That includes antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The Department of Education has not released details on any specific incidents being investigated.

University officials released the following statement on the matter.

“Drexel University is committed to ensuring a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all of our students, faculty, and professional staff. Drexel does not tolerate acts of bias, discrimination, and harassment and will fully cooperate with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights in its investigation.”

The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and Lafayette College in Easton are also part of the ongoing investigation.

Muslim Student Vandalizes Jewish Teacher's Desk with Swastikas at New York High School

The effects of a war a world away are being seen here at home.

On Monday, 2 On Your Side obtained a police report confirming an antisemitic incident taking place at Buffalo Public Schools’ Hutchinson Central Technical High School in November.

The police report said that on Nov. 9, a Muslim student drew swastikas and the Star of David on a desk in a Jewish teacher’s classroom.

The student told investigators that he was aware of the ongoing war in the Middle East but claimed to be unaware of the meaning of the symbols.

Buffalo Public Schools suspended the student following the incident and denounced the act.

Back in October, 2 On Your Side sat down with Buffalo Teachers Federation President Rich Nigro about a string of violent incidents being committed by students towards teachers following a video we obtained showing a Burgard High School student assaulting a teacher.

The teachers’ union president said then that they were working with the district to address student-on-teacher violence, but that more still needed to be done.

“The optics of it needs to be if you do something like this, this is, without question, definitely wrong and there needs to be immediate consequences,” he said. “Nobody should feel like they have to look over their shoulder when they’re going to work.”

Nigro was unable to sit down for an additional interview Monday due to a scheduling conflict but said over the phone that they are hoping to begin a series of safety meetings with the district next month where they plan to discuss reviewing the code of conduct and more ways to prevent violence and harassment toward teachers.

Here is the full statement from Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tonja M. Williams:

“Buffalo Public Schools unequivocally denounces this antisemitism and all negative racial or cultural acts against others. Upon learning of the incident, the school took swift action to hold the student accountable for this hateful conduct. The leadership at Hutchinson Technical High School, which has a very diverse population of students and staff, responded swiftly to remove a swastika found on a student’s desk. The swastika has been a long-standing symbol of antisemitism and hate. It has no place in any of our learning or district communities. We embrace inclusiveness, and our diversity is viewed as an asset. 

Hateful and harmful, racially motivated actions will not be tolerated in any of our schools. As the most diverse school district in Western New York, this unfortunate situation was used to serve as an opportunity to teach the student and the student’s family about the history that a swastika evokes. 

I am thankful that in a district with students from more than 100 countries, this is the first time we have had such a hateful act since we strengthened the district’s code of conduct in August. The BPS code of conduct addresses this kind of infraction. 

The district’s Office of Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Initiatives (CLRI) has been deployed to provide developmentally appropriate curriculum materials to teachers to ensure that instruction and support are provided to all of our students. This department intentionally focuses on schools and offices creating cultures of inclusion and equitable educational experiences for all. The CLRI team provides our administrators, teachers, and support staff with professional development to help them teach tolerance and inclusion in their classrooms. For instance, at Lafayette International PS 207, where the student body is comprised of students who are new to the country and many of them are Muslim, we collaborate closely with Jewish Family Services to provide Cultural Resource Brokers and the Anne Frank Project, a story- and drama-based learning organization that reinforces academic and socio-emotional learning through themes of social justice and self-identity. The Anne Frank Project also works on Saturdays with Our Story Project students at Hutch Tech PS 304, Burgard PS 301, Research Laboratory PS 366, City Honors PS 195, and MST PS 197, which includes story-based learning related to fairness, equity, and social justice. Students will be performing a dramatic interpretation of what they learned at our districtwide Urban Forum professional development conference in February.  

I am proud of the fact that each of our BPS schools also have Guardians of Equity position that works in the school to guarantee that all educational resources and materials are inclusive and teach tolerance for all.

While the student returned to school, the school’s Student Support Team, district crisis team, and a school administrator met with the student and the student’s family to bring sensitivity to this harm. As part of the student's disciplinary due process hearing, the student and his family were also given information on community resources for counseling and support. The class schedule was modified to provide some needed space for the student and teacher to heal while continued interventions are being provided. 

It is our expectation that as we continue to work with the student, a restorative meeting will be facilitated by the CRLI and the district’s Crisis Intervention and Prevention staff for the student and the teacher.

Finally, New York State Education Department-approved educational resources were distributed to every school, which include lesson plans by grade level, other culturally inclusive materials, and instructional circle prompts for teachers to use with their students."

Florida HOA Campaigned to Prevent Jewish Resident From Building a Synagogue

A Florida homeowners association campaigned to prevent an Orthodox Jewish family from building a synagogue within the community, with one board member saying that they didn’t want Jews in the area, according to a letter written by the family’s legal representation. 

Rabbi Naftaly Hertzel and his wife, Henya, have been residents of the Loggers’ Run Homeowners Association for 14 years, and the couple has five children. Hertzel is a rabbi at the Chabad Israeli Center, the only religious service for Orthodox Jews within a six-mile radius in West Boca Raton, Florida. 

In a Thursday statement provided to The Christian Post, Jeremy Dys, senior counsel for First Liberty Institute, a Christian conservative legal group, accused the HOA’s leadership of antisemitism. 

“This disparate treatment against the Hertzels and their family because of religion is unlawful and enjoys no support from any legitimate, non-discriminatory justification,” he stated. “This treatment not only violates basic decency but clearly violates the HOA’s obligations under federal law.”

The Christian Post reached out to the Loggers’ Run Homeowners Association for comment on the claims. A response was not received by press time. 

According to a Thursday letter to the HOA from the Jones Day law firm and First Liberty Institute, the family’s relationship with the HOA changed in 2015. Hertzel approached the HOA board about building a synagogue to provide the local Jewish community with a larger venue for worship. 

As the letter noted, the HOA gifted Christian churches or allowed them to purchase land in the past, so Hertzel expected a similar response. 

In 2017, the Hertzels submitted a proposal to build a synagogue near several churches within the community, but board members did not bring the proposal up for a vote. The letter also accused the HOA of trying to prevent Jewish candidates from being elected to its board. In 2018, HOA president Ron Harp sent a message through the HOA email, encouraging residents not to vote for Jewish candidates.

In addition, the attorneys accused the HOA of singling out the Hertzels by selectively enforcing the rules against them but not other houses. The Hertzels maintain that they had never received notices of enforcement from the HOA until they had asked for a synagogue. 

At one point, during a meeting with an attorney, a HOA board member reportedly said that they “didn’t want Jews” in Loggers’ Run. During the same meeting, a HOA president allegedly said that the Nazis should have ended the Jews.

“We demand that the Loggers’ Run HOA and its individual leaders cease and desist from discriminating against the Hertzels and their family,” the letter stated. “To protect the Hertzels from this unlawful harassment and discrimination, we are reaching out in hopes of finding an amicable course correction in lieu of seeking court intervention.” 

The legal organizations warned that they intend to file a lawsuit on behalf of the Hertzels if the HOA does not comply with making the desired changes. 

Following Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israel that resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 people, a majority of them civilians, the Hertzels allege that the HOA is aware of antisemitism in the community but has done nothing to stop it. 

“Over the past few years, and again in the past months since the October 7th attack in Israel, Loggers’ Run residents have yelled ‘heil Hitler’ at the Hertzels in the neighborhood near their Home and at the Chabad,” the letter stated. “The Chabad has been vandalized multiple times. A Hannukah menorah and a mezuzah at the Chabad have been broken.” 

The attorneys concluded the letter by offering to arrange a mediation meeting with the Hertzels before taking any legal action, requesting that the HOA respond before Jan. 19, 2024. In addition, the attorneys requested that the HOA take steps to preserve all documents relevant to the issues raised in the letter.

Police Arrest Man Who Yelled, "Gas the Jews" and Sprayed Substance at D.C. Synagogue

A man was arrested and is facing charges after police say he sprayed an unknown substance at two people outside a D.C. synagogue while shouting antisemitic remarks. 

The incident happened Sunday just before 9:30 a.m. outside the Kesher Israel Congregation in the 2800 block of N Street in Georgetown.

Detectives say they placed 33-year-old Brent Wood under arrest at the scene. His vehicle was checked, but no hazardous materials were found. No injuries were reported.

Wood’s last known address was in Toledo, Ohio.  He faces  two simple assault charges. 

Wood pleaded not guilty to two simple assault charges. He was released with conditions to stay away from the synagogue and the two people who were sprayed.

The Metropolitan Police Department says they are investigating this offense as being motivated by hate or bias. 

Statement from Rabbi Hyim Shafner of Kesher Israel Synagogue:

Every American should feel safe in their place of worship, and I am deeply disturbed by increased frequency and intensity of antisemitic incidents targeting our congregation. We thank God no one was seriously hurt, but this event further demonstrates why Jewish people are feeling unsafe in their institutions.

All too often, the burden of protecting ourselves falls to our congregants. We need government and law enforcement to further strengthen their partnerships with Jewish communities, including by providing additional funding for security personnel and infrastructure. And we urge the wider community in joining us in speaking out against these hateful attacks.

Statement from the Jewish Federation: 

"The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington strongly condemns the antisemitic attack at Kesher Israel Congregation in Georgetown and the vandalism at Temple Emanuel in Kensington, MD this weekend. At a time when antisemitism is at an all-time high locally and nationally, we must continue to make it clear that hate of any kind has no place here. Our community’s security remains Federation’s top priority. We are in close contact with local law enforcement, including the Metropolitan Police Department and Montgomery County Police Department, and we appreciate their swift responses to these incidents to ensure our community’s safety. As always, we encourage community members to reach out to local police and security@shalomdc.org to report any security incidents or concerns."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Massachusetts Police Investigating After a Menorah and Pro-Israel Sign Was Vandalized

A Framingham menorah display, as well as a sign voicing support for Israel placed in front of the menorah, were vandalized over the weekend, Framingham police said.

Officials said they are investigating the matter as a potential hate crime.

The department received information on Sunday that the menorah at Centre Common on Edgell Road was vandalized. Officials confirmed it had been knocked over while the pro-Israel sign was missing from the display.

Video surveillance shows a person knocking the menorah over around 6:51 p.m. on Saturday. The person hasn't been identified as of Monday afternoon, police said.

The menorah was scratched and two light bulbs were damaged, police said.

Suspicious Package Delivered to Palm Beach Synagogue Leads to Evacuation

A suspicious package delivered to the Shaarei Kodesh Congregation in Boca Raton led to the evacuation of the synagogue and school, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO).

According to PBSO, the call came in at 12:12 p.m. from the synagogue located on Hampton Drive.

PBSO says the package turned out to be a manila envelope that the U.S. Post Office delivered.

Temple in Oklahoma Evacuated Following Bomb Threat

Oklahoma City Police investigated a bomb threat on Monday at a Jewish house of worship.

Temple B'nai Israel, , 4901 N Pennsylvania, received a threat via email about a possible explosive device about 8 a.m. Monday, Oklahoma City Police Capt. Valerie Littlejohn said.

"We responded, the building was evacuated and we checked the building and nothing was found," Littlejohn said.

Rabbi Vered Harris, spiritual leader of Temple B'nai Israel, said the temple congregation was sent an email on Monday to share information about the threat, specifically that law enforcement believed the incident to be part of a nationwide campaign to frighten the Jewish community.

"Our staff acted quickly to follow protocol. Law enforcement was immediately notified, the building was evacuated, and preschool was cancelled. After an onsite investigation, law enforcement cleared our building and the threat was confirmed a hoax," Harris said in her email to the congregation. The rabbi also told temple members that Secure Community Network (SCN) reported that there were 199 similar threats across 17 states on Sunday.

"As antisemitic incidents rise around the globe, we are grateful for the Oklahoma City Police Dpeartment, OSBI, FBI, our congregational security team, and the diligence of our staff," Harris said in her letter.

"In difficult times we band together to remain strong. We focus on the beauty of our tradition: mitzvot, acts of lovingkindness, prayer, and community. Above all, we pray for the world to know peace."

The Secure Communities Network that Harris referred to in her letter is the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America. In a news release, the organization's leaders said in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the Secure Community Network saw an "unprecedented uptick in incident reports."

"A historic number of incident reports concerning Jewish safety and security is a sign of the heightened threat risk North American Jews face, and underscores the need for vigilance and preparation within our communities," Michael Masters, the organization's national director and chief executive officer, said.

"SCN is actively collaborating with federal, state, and local security partners, and providing Jewish institutions with up-to-date guidance, tools, and intelligence to help address the security challenges of this fluid and dynamic threatenvironment. While there are no active credible threats, we will continue to provide support, resources, and guidance to ensure that all can continue to practice Jewish lives safely and freely."

Canadian Man Charged for Antisemitic Phone Call Targeting Jewish Doctor

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Hate and Bias Crime Unit charged a British Columbia man on Monday for an antisemitic, misogynistic and intimidating phone call targeting an Ottawa family doctor.

Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth —  a member of Ottawa’s Jewish community, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) trustee and a family doctor — wrote in a social media post on Monday that she had been “living in fear because of threats and antisemetic harassment” since being targeted.

This comes only days after an Ottawa youth was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for terrorism charges in an alleged plot against the Jewish community.

Dr. Kaplan-Myrth had previously been the target of harassment for her work with COVID-19 vaccines while advocating for public health measures.

At the time, she received antisemitic, threatening and hateful messages to her personal and OCDSB email accounts.

OPS charged a 39 year-old man from British Columbia with the following:

• Indecent Telecommunications;

• Harassment by threatening Conduct; and

• Intimidation-Health Services.

He is scheduled to appear in court sometime in January.

Police encourage the public to report hate-motivated incidents to police on their website or to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Over 400 Jewish Businesses Victims of False Bomb Threats and Swatting Over Email

More than 400 Jewish facilities across the US have received false bomb threats over email since Saturday.

Oren Segal told CNN they believe one person or a small number of individuals were behind the series of threats.

The email messages contained several similarities, Segal – who had seen the messages – told CNN, including the nature of the alleged threats, and variations in the name of a group claiming to be responsible for them.

While the threats were all deemed to be hoaxes, Segal added, “the Jewish community doesn’t take any threat lightly. We don’t have the luxury to ignore them.”

The Secure Community Network, a non-profit tracking threats against Jewish communities, earlier reported more than 200 bomb threats and “swatting calls” were made against Jewish institutions.

According to the network, the false threats and swatting incidents – prank calls made to authorities to lure them to a location under the false pretense a crime has been committed or is in progress – targeted facilities in California, Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Washington, and other states.

The FBI is aware of the hoaxes and is assisting local law enforcement in the investigations, the agency said in a statement to CNN, noting there is no information to suggest a current, credible threat.

“The FBI is aware of the numerous hoax incidents wherein a bomb threat at a synagogue is made. The FBI takes hoax threats very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk,” the agency said.

“While we have no information to indicate a specific and credible threat, we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to gather, share, and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention.”

The incidents are happening days after the end of Hanukkah and amid a spike in threats against the Jewish community documented since October, when the war in Gaza began.

The bomb threats and swatting incidents made against Jewish institutions saw a 541% increase this year over 2022, according to the Secure Community Network.

The threats and swatting incidents occurred in states across the country, according to the Secure Community Network, as police departments reported some of the threats in their communities.

In Massachusetts, “approximately 30” temples and Jewish cultural centers received “some sort of threat communication” over the weekend, according to state police communications director David Procopio.

“We did not respond to all of them, but our Bomb Squad did respond to several and conducted sweeps of the facilities,” Procopio said. “Many were handled on the local level by local police and firefighters. All are believed to have been hoaxes; no explosives or hazards were located at any site.”

He added the state intelligence center and anti-terrorism unit are working with the FBI to investigate the source of the threats and the hate crimes unit is working with religious leaders across the state.

The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama said in a Facebook post they responded to a bomb threat at the Congregation Mayim Chayim. The office said the threat was not credible and the area is “considered safe.”

The Roswell Police Department in Georgia also reported on Facebook two local synagogues received threats. They found nothing suspicious, according to the Facebook post.

And in central Alabama, six Jewish institutions received bomb threats, according to a Facebook post from the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama. “The actual threat level was deemed low but we must always respond out of an abundance of caution,” wrote the group.

Menorah in Southern California Vandalized

Santa Monica police are investigating the vandalism of an eight-foot-tall menorah on Montana Avenue last Thursday afternoon amid a rise in antisemitic hate crimes nationwide.

The vandalism -- reported at around 2 p.m. -- resulted in "thousands of dollars in damage" to the steel and glass menorah installed at 15th Street, according to police.

The "unknown assailant" is described as a male wearing a black hoodie with white lettering on the back and black pants, police said.

"He grabbed onto an outer arm of the menorah and pulled down, causing it to tip over and break," said a post on the Department's Facebook page.

The suspect "then fled eastbound on Montana and out of sight."

Police detectives investigating the incident are "seeking surveillance footage and witnesses who might have seen any suspicious activity in the area," according to the post.

The incident took place one day after a large menorah in Oakland, California, was vandalized in what police are investigating as a hate crime.

According to AP, police said the vandalism took place by Lake Merritt shortly before 1:30 a.m.

"Images showed only remnants of the tall menorah, with pieces scattered on a path around the lake and in the water," AP reported. "Hate speech was sprayed on nearby concrete."

"A steady stream of vehicles bearing smaller menorahs traveled Wednesday night to the site of the desecration, where a large new menorah was lit," AP wrote.

Antisemitic hate crimes have surged nationwide after Hamas launched a terrorist massacre in Israel on October 7, prompting numerous anti-Jewish rallies on U.S. college campuses, as well as individual attacks against Jews.

According to a recent report from the FBI, Jews were the most frequent targets of religion-based hate crimes in the U.S. last year, with 1,305 offenses committed against them, followed by Muslims with 205 offenses committed against them.

Santa Monica police have been on heightened alert this holiday season, with "extra officers providing high visibility patrols of all our religious institutions," police officials said.

"This malicious destruction is a reminder that in this season of holidays and festivities we all need to watch out for the health and welfare of our community."

Jews celebrate Hanukkah -- which commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek army 2,200 years ago -- for eight days, lighting one of the menorah's candles each night.

This year, Hanukkah began Thursday, December 7 at sunset and ended Friday, December 15 at nightfall.

Anyone with information about Thursday's incident should call the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8491.

Harvard Probe Continues After Reports Surface of Events Excluding Jewish Students

Already battered by recent controversies about antisemitism on campus, Harvard University now faces another claim of hostility to Jews.

The conservative outlet The Blaze reported on Sunday that Harvard excluded Jewish students from its roster of “Affinity Celebrations for Graduates.”

“Affinity celebrations are student-led, staff-supported events that recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of graduates from historically marginalized communities,” Harvard previously explained on its website.

“These University-wide celebrations provide an opportunity for graduates to honor those who have helped them achieve their milestone while centering their cultural traditions and values.”

Unless those students happen to be Jews, apparently.

According to The Blaze, Harvard enthusiastically promoted “Affinity Celebrations,” which were arranged in collaboration with the school’s  Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, for “Black Graduates,” “Graduates with Disabilities,” “Indigenous Graduates,” “LGBTQ+ Graduates,” “Arab Graduates,” and “Latinx Graduates.”

Two groups are conspicuous by their absence: whites, and specifically white men, and Jews.

The Blaze noted that the website detailing “Affinity Celebrations” has been deleted.

Fox News, which also reported on the controversial program, noted that the website was last accessible on June 26.

But Harvard has been in damage-control mode since President Claudine Gay’s disastrous testimony before Congress earlier this month.

Gay declined to say whether antisemitic rhetoric on campus violated the school honor code, adding that such a violation depended on the “context” of the remarks.

In addition to deleting the website that dismissed Jews in the graduation events, the journalist Paul D. Thacker noted on X on Sunday, that Harvard has now revamped its DEI website to do away with language about anti-racist and inclusive initiatives and also “disappeared” the section discussing the use of “preferred pronouns.”

Police Respond to Threat of Explosives at New Jersey Synagogue

Acting Chief Griffin Banos of the Monroe Township Police Department has issued a statement regarding a recent security threat at a local Jewish center.

Yesterday, Congregation Etz Chaim in Monroe Township received an emailed threat from an unidentified individual. The threat claimed that several explosives had been placed inside the Jewish Center located at 11 Cornell Ave. In response, Monroe Township Police Officers immediately arrived at the scene to secure the building.

A Police K9 explosives detection team was deployed to sweep the property thoroughly. After an exhaustive search, no explosives were found, and the property was declared safe. Control of the building was then returned to the property management.

This incident in Monroe Township comes amidst a series of similar threats reported nationwide over recent days. The connection, if any, between these incidents remains unclear at this time. The Monroe Township Police Department emphasizes that all threats are taken seriously. Despite the absence of explosives in this instance, the department remains committed to working with law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and security of the community.

The Monroe Township Police Department is seeking assistance from the public. Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact them at 732-521-0222.

Pro-Israel Rally in New York Marred by Antisemitic Signs

In a shocking turn of events, the West Hempstead Jewish community found itself at the center of a disturbing incident during a community rally held at a local park in support of Israel. As residents gathered to celebrate unity and solidarity, the atmosphere was marred by the discovery of mock body bags and antisemitic signs strategically placed within the park.

The unsettling discovery took place while members of the West Hempstead Jewish community were participating in a pro Israel rally emphasizing the importance of togetherness and shared values. The event, intended to foster a sense of community and harmony, and peace but was instead tainted by the presence of hate.

Rapid response was initiated by the local chapter of the RNSP Shomrim. Working in collaboration with law enforcement, members of RNSP Shomrim swiftly arrived at the scene to investigate the unsettling incident.

Local law enforcement, including the Police Department, also responded promptly to the distressing situation. The collaborative efforts of RNSP Shomrim and the police aimed to ensure the safety of the community and swiftly address any potential threats.

Over 50 Buildings Vandalized in Washington with "Free Palestine" Graffiti

Police in Washington state are searching for the suspects involved in vandalizing over 50 buildings with calls for a "ceasefire" and "free Palestine."  

According to a post on Facebook from the Edmonds Police Department, on Saturday morning, dozens of business owners in Edmonds reported being vandalized with calls to end the Israel-Hamas War painted in red on their windows.

"Overnight, multiple businesses downtown (several blocks near 5/Main) were tagged with posters and graffiti. The graffiti stated "free Palestine" or "cease fire", police posted.

Police added that no threats were made to anyone or any groups. 

"I believe in freedom of speech and freedom to say what we think, and we care about in this life, but I don’t think that warrants moving in on someone else’s property," Joan Archer, owner of Aria Studio Gallery, told Fox 13 Seattle. 

Archer added that someone wrote "End the occupation" on her business window.

FOX 13 News was able to secure surveillance video from another business owner which shows about five people, dressed in all black, walking down the street around 2 a.m.

The video is now in the possession of the Edmonds Police.

Officers are working to identify the suspects in the video and have not yet released any information on them.