DeKalb County

Jewish centers take precautions after threats

By Aaron Diamant
By Aaron Diamant

ATLANTA, Ga. — Jewish institutions across metro Atlanta are reviewing their security plans after a wave of bomb threats hit Jewish community centers across the country.

So far this year, more than 50 centers from coast to coast have faced nearly 70 total threats.

The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta in Dunwoody received a threat in January.

Some of the threats around the country led to evacuations, but all turned out to be hoaxes.

“I understand this is all about creating fear,” said Rabbi Mario Karpuj.

President Trump addressed the threats Tuesday, saying there is work to be done.

“Anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are horrible and are painful and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil,” he said.

Cathal Lucy, the director of community-wide security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, said easing community concerns is a growing challenge.

“I think the most important thing we can do is prepare and plan. That’s what puts people at ease,” he said.

During a threat, the Marcus Center used protocol Lucy helped prepare.

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“I was with the Secret Service assigned to the presidential protective detail on 911, so when I saw how plans come into place and how, when you prepare, all those days you go out for training you say to yourself, ‘I’m out here doing the same thing repetitively,’ but it comes into play,” Lucy said.

Metro-area Jewish institutions are working to strengthen their safety plans.

“If you are the person who picks up the phone in a situation at a JCC, you want to try to extract as much information as you possibly can because with that information, you have your reaction to how you’re going to handle the situation,” Lucy said.

Karpuj said that although these threats are targeting the Jewish community, everyone should be aware of the impact.

“I think it’s also important to understand that this is, yes, maybe against Jewish institutions, but it’s really an attack on us as a community, as Americans. It’s an attack on all of us,” he said.

Cox Media Group

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