Bomb threat at Jewish community center hits close to home

The Harry and Rose Samson Family JCC received a bomb threat on January 31.

The Harry and Rose Samson Family JCC received a bomb threat on January 31.

Nationwide, Jewish community centers have been recieving bomb threats. Throughout late January, over 50 Jewish community centers were targeted in over 20 states. On Tuesday, Jan. 31, 14 centers in ten states were targeted, including the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay, Wis.

Tuesday marked the third day of nationwide threats. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency recorded that on Jan. 9, 16 centers in nine states were targeted, and on Jan. 18, 27 centers in 17 states received threats.

On a local basis, the Whitefish Bay JCC was evacuated, along with the Milwaukee Jewish Day School in Fox Point. Both locations were cleared and students were taken to nearby safe-spots.

According to Mark Shapiro, president of the Harry and Rose Samson Family JCC, there was a “safe and calm, full evacuation of [the] facilities.”

Nationwide, police departments have been taking serious security measures to ensure that the community centers and safe and can be re-opened to the general public.

“Our Jewish community centers are focusing on security today more than ever before, and in spite of these continuous bomb threats I’m confident that our institutions are taking security seriously,” Paul Goldenberg, director of Secure Community Network, said.