In a disturbing escalation of tensions, three New York City synagogues and The Brooklyn Museum received false bomb threats on Saturday, prompting evacuations and concerns over rising antisemitism. The incidents came days after an Israeli restaurateur's eateries were defaced with swastikas amid the heightened Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Upper West Side's Congregation Rodeph Sholom was evacuated after police received a bomb threat report around 3:15 p.m. The threat was ultimately deemed unfounded. Another threat targeted the progressive, LGBTQ-friendly Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, though no one was inside at the time. It too proved to be baseless. Later, at 5:15 p.m., The Brooklyn Heights Synagogue received a bomb threat, forcing the evacuation of three employees before no explosives were found. A fourth threat was reported at the Brooklyn Museum around 5:30 p.m., but it was also determined to be false. Earlier reports of a threat against Chabad of Midtown were unfounded.
Authorities are investigating whether the threats were connected, but no credible danger was found. The incidents prompted a forceful response from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who stated, "Threats have been determined not to be credible, but we will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & antisemitism. Those responsible must be held accountable."
3 New York Synagogues evacuated after receiving bomb threats.
Congregation Rodeph Sholom, Chabad of Midtown and Congregation Beit Simchat Torah were all evacuated this afternoon.
After evacuating all three Jewish synagogues as a safety precaution, police determined that the… pic.twitter.com/UltrfC126I
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 5, 2024
Just days earlier, the same Israeli restaurateur whose kosher Upper East Side restaurant was subjected to back-to-back antisemitic attacks saw another of his eateries, ZiZi in Chelsea, defaced with swastikas. Owner Sharon Hoota arrived Tuesday to find two hate symbols – one red and one black – spray painted on ZiZi's outdoor dining area.
"This is, I believe, no different than what the Jews saw in the 1930s in Germany," Hoota told The New York Post. Hoota said at least 10 Israeli and US flags have been torn down from ZiZi since Hamas' October 7 attack. His Hummus Kitchen previously was attacked by an assailant who tried to tear down a flag before assaulting staff. "I feel unsafe as a business owner, as a citizen, to put the flags outside...I'm unprotected," Hoota stated. "Unfortunately, this type of thing is still happening in New York, and actually, it looks like it's getting worse."
Not peaceful. Not normal. Not lawful. This is a brazen hate crime and must be reported as such. Those responsible must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I also encourage our friends and neighbors to drop by Zizi's in Chelsea to grab a bite and demonstrate… https://t.co/w8qwLMziIX
— Mark Treyger 🍎 (@MarkTreyger718) May 4, 2024
Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of New York, said, "This is not peaceful, this is not lawful and this is not normal and this is happening on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day. This is a dangerous escalation of what we've already been seeing." While thanking officials for engagement, he lamented the extreme security required to practice faith safely, stating, "We cannot normalize that in New York City in the year 2024...we will never accept this as normal."
The disturbing incidents underscore growing concerns over antisemitism amid the escalating Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
