Religious Leaders Stand Together Against Hate Crimes in New Haven

Following a wave of bomb threats that shook the Jewish community, 17 local religious organizations took part in active shooter awareness training Monday with FBI and police at a New Haven synagogue.

Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen from Congregation Beth-El Kesser Israel quoted a Jewish psalm as leaders from different communities stood in unity against hate crimes at his synagogue.

"How wonderful it is when people – diverse people – can live together as brothers and sisters," Tilsen said.

The NAACP, Bethel AME Church of New Haven and the Sikh Community of Connecticut were some of the groups represented at a joint press conference.

"Threat on any place of worship I consider as a threat on their identity," said Swaranjit Singh Khalsa of the Sikh Community of Connecticut said.

From early January into March, 220 calls threatening bombs or violence were made to Jewish institutions in 43 stages, including the JCCs in Woodbridge and West Hartford, FBI Special Agent in Charge Patricia Ferrick said.

The arrest of 18-year-old dual American-Israeli citizen Michael Kadar in connection to the hoax threats of violence is a relief for local the Jewish community. He is now facing federal charges out of Florida and Georgia.

"We were really living in a state of high alert and anticipating when the next email would come, the next phone call," said Judy Alperin, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

The message from Connecticut's U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly is to remain vigilant against threats to any religious community.

"As members of the public out there, I urge you to speak up when you see an incident of violence or an incident of hate, speak up, and if you think that it may actually be a crime, report it," Daly said.

The JCC of Greater New Haven has tightened security procedures and was one of the organizations represented at the active shooter training.

"So that we can be better prepared for what is really the unimaginable," Alperin said.

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