As the war between Israel and Hamas rages on, pro-Hamas contingents around the world have grown increasingly aggressive and violent. On Saturday at a mall in Ottawa Canada, pro-Hamas protesters surrounded a group of people simply trying to take their kids to visit Santa Claus. But here in the U.S., things have taken a turn for the violent and dangerous, as hundreds of synagogues around the country received bomb threats over the weekend. The Secure Community Network, a Jewish organization that looks out for the safety and security of Jews across North America, says that in the last 24 hours, they have tracked approximately 199 swatting and false bomb threats at synagogues across the country.

Man arrested outside Georgetown synagogue for screaming at congregants gas the Jews and spraying a foul substance on two people in one of hundreds of antisemitic attacks and threats this weekend as part of the global intifada. https://t.co/BT3XPbqXbr

— Max Abrahms (@MaxAbrahms) December 18, 2023

The threats may be a continuation of incidents that took place throughout New York City recently. Earlier this month, 15 synagogues in and around the New York City area, and several in other parts of the state received bomb threats. Fortunately, all the facilities were swept by law enforcement and there were no injuries or damage. But it appears that antisemitic violence has gone nationwide. West of Boston in Northampton Massachusetts, the Beit Ahavah synagogue received a bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax as several other Jewish places of worship were also targeted there. In Roswell, Georgia, police were investigating an email that was sent to two synagogues detailing bomb threats. The Beth Israel synagogue in Jackson Mississippi canceled events scheduled for Sunday morning after a threat was received. Earlier in the week, other area synagogues had received threats. 

The pattern of sending the threats via email was a common theme for all of the incidents. Three synagogues in Creve Coeur Missouri outside of St. Louis all received email bomb threats. Synagogues were threatened by email in Nashville Tennessee, Dothan Alabama, and Boulder Colorado as well. Altogether, threats were received in 17 states and Washington D.C. Local police are investigating the incidents, and in most of the cases, the FBI is investigating. It is unknown if the threats were the work of individuals or a group. 

Deputies investigate bomb threat at synagogue near Boynton Beach FLhttps://t.co/GF43W4MEBC

— Reel Lady 🇺🇸 (@Cbaxter214) December 14, 2023

While it is unknown who the perpetrators of these threats are, what is known, is the increasingly alarming attitude toward Israel and the Jewish people held by younger Americans. A recent The Economist/YouGov poll showed that a chilling 20 percent of young people ages 18-29 believe that the Holocaust was a myth. My colleague Bob Hoge recently pointed out some equally disturbing facts about America's young people from a recent Harvard/Harris poll. Americans 18-24 agree with the idea "For Israel to be ended and given to Hamas and the Palestinians." Almost 25 percent think "Israel should be ended." Of those polled said they did not believe that Hamas had committed atrocities like rape against Israelis. The complete lack of knowledge continued, with 67 percent believing Jews are "oppressors," and 60 percent believing the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas was "justified" because of the perceived injustices to the Palestinian people.

How is the Biden administration addressing the sharp rise in antisemitism? President Joe Biden recently met with Jewish leaders to discuss the problem. The meeting came on the heels of disturbing testimony from the Presidents of Ivy League universities, who could not bring themselves to say that "calling for the genocide of Jews" would violate university codes of conduct. But that meeting did not come before another meeting back in October with Muslim leaders who said that Biden showed "disregard" for Palestinian deaths in the conflict, and also, not before he announced in November, a "National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia," as Biden's poll numbers for reelection in 2024 are not looking good among Arab-Americans. It's all about priorities.

Esther Panitch is a State Rep. in Georgia and is Jewish. She summed up what is a sad fact for America's Jewish communities right now saying, “We can’t pray without armed guards; our kids can’t go to school without armed guards. It’s a regular part of our lives right now.” Truly a sobering fact for America in 2023.

This morning during Shabbat religious services — the Jewish day of rest — we had to evacuate my synagogue in Montgomery, AL due to a bomb threat. This is exhausting. I pray for the day that we can worship and live in peace. pic.twitter.com/qjzvvzmqYe

— Phillip Ensler (@EnslerPhillip) December 16, 2023