Dear Senator Booker,
I really don't know what it takes anymore to have peace of mind in our communities. It seems that we are under a constant invisible assault, with no end in sight. No, I'm not speaking about Republicans or Democrats, because, ultimately, both are affected. I'm speaking about the frequent bomb threats being made across the United States to Jewish institutions, and I'm sick from it.
On January 9, as I am sure you're aware, New Jersey Jewish Community Centers were part of a targeted terror attack, as the JCC in Tenafly was among 16 institutions nationwide to receive bomb threats. Credible? Does it matter? The fact remains that every one of these threats needed to be treated like the emergency it was. Get people out of the building. Get the pre-K school children out of the building. Bring in law-enforcement, secure the building, and denounce the attack. It was amazing to me that 16 at once were attacked! How could this happen. Surely the State of New Jersey as well as Federal agencies would make this a priority and it would stop.
Then it was our turn. The JCC I belong to in Scotch Plains was similarly attacked, and in a similar fashion, on January 18. This time, 27 Jewish organizations and schools were targeted across 17 states. And, yet again, besides the local disruption of hundreds of Jewish families like my own, the attacks were under-reported by the media, and the authorities were conspicuously silent.
January 31, another wave of bomb threats were made. In New Jersey, JCCs in West Orange, and again in Tenafly were targeted. Again, it was part of a national campaign impacting 15 centers in 10 states. Again, gross under-reporting by the media, and barely a response from our representatives and law enforcement.
Just two weeks later, the White House (not the President), released a statement that this was "unacceptable." And that was that. When confronted by an international reporter at a press conference, our Commander in Chief got caught up in an answer that had nothing to do with the question. Our safety went unaddressed.
On February 18 and 19, grave stones were overturned at Jewish Cemeteries. On February 20, a fourth wave of terror threats were made. Finally, after pleading for some kind of national response by the Anti-Defamation League, the President denounced the acts. Your colleagues in the House, 150 representatives strong, including 10 from New Jersey, implored the President to make this issue a priority. Problem solved, right?
On February 26, more grave stones were upturned, this time closer to home, in Philadelphia. On February 27, yet another wave of bomb threat attacks was carried out to 13 Jewish institutions in 12 states...including New Jersey with Tenafly receiving yet another threat, as well as Cherry Hill.
The White House denounced. The Presidential Press Secretary Denounced. The President made it part of his speech when addressing Congress. Grants were promised to aid Jewish centers and synagogues in improving security. All was great, until...
Today, in Livingston, another bomb threat was made to a local synagogue and pre-K school, forcing everyone to evacuate.
Senator, as the terror attacks continue, it's clear that not enough is being done. Grants to beef up security isn't going to stop a phone call from coming in. The Governor of NJ is promising aid, but, like many social diseases, these offerings of help are no better than a band aid on a gunshot wound. My fear is that, the longer this does not get addressed, the more open the door is for copy-cat attacks...ones that inflict more than just psychological pain. And, while I don't believe that there are more racists, bigots and anti-Semites since the President took office, I do feel as if they are emboldened. Somebody is going to act, and people are going to die...children are going to die...children that are newborns all the way to age 4 and 5. My babies and the babies of my friends and families.
And this is why I'm writing you: it's time to press this on a national front. We, the Jewish People of the United States are living a nightmare. It's time to engage your colleagues in the Senate to press Homeland Security and the FBI to act more quickly to bring the perpetrators to justice. My hope is that all of the attacks in the past will shed light so that the Authorities can do their jobs, and make us feel safe again.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Herbert Scott August
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
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