WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Donald Norcross is asking the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to address recent bomb threats to Jewish Community Centers across the country.

“I’m calling on the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to immediately begin working with the state of New Jersey, local governments and our Jewish Community Centers to address and end these threats,” Norcross said. “There’s no place for anti-Semitism in our community or our country. These threats don’t just run counter to our values, they cause great emotional stress and harm to our communities.”

Several Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) in New Jersey have received threats, including the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County in Edison, the Kaplen Jewish Community Center on the Palisades in Tenafly, the Jewish Community Center of MetroWest in West Orange and the Jewish Community Center of Central NJ in Scotch Plains. The JCC Association of North America reports that 48 JCCs in 27 states received telephonic bomb threats in January 2017, alone.

Norcross joined with more than 150 Democrats in sending a letter led by Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) to the agencies demanding action. They wrote, “This is not an idle concern, given that there have been at least three casualty-causing attacks at JCCs or other Jewish institutions in the last two decades—in 2014 at a Kansas JCC, in 2006 at the Jewish Federation of Seattle, and in 1999 at a California JCC.  This is a national problem and, as such, it requires a national solution.”

A full copy of the letter is copied below:

Dear Secretary Kelly, Attorney General Sessions, and Director Comey,

We write to express our deep concern regarding the recent spate of anonymous bomb threats made via telephone against Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) across the nation.  We urge the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to swiftly assess the situation and to advise Congress on what specific steps are being taken, or will be taken, to deter such “telephone terrorism,” to identify and prosecute the perpetrators for violations of federal criminal laws, and to enable JCCs to enhance security measures such as physical barriers and guards, in the event that an individual seeks to act upon these threats.

This is not an idle concern, given that there have been at least three casualty-causing attacks at JCCs or other Jewish institutions in the last two decades—in 2014 at a Kansas JCC, in 2006 at the Jewish Federation of Seattle, and in 1999 at a California JCC.  This is a national problem and, as such, it requires a national solution.

According to February 16, 2017, article on CNN.com, the JCC Association of North America (JCC Association) reports that 48 JCCs in 27 states received telephonic bomb threats in January 2017 alone.  A number of JCCs, such as the Orlando Jewish Community Center, have received multiple threats.  These phone calls have an immediate emotional impact, of course, but they also have an economic impact.  JCCs provide a range of educational and community services for Jewish and non-Jewish individuals and families, with a particular focus on children and youth.  The individuals who make these calls no doubt recognize that bomb threats, particularly when repeated, can compromise and even destroy a JCC’s financial future.

We urge you to approach this issue with a sense of urgency, and to work in partnership with state and territory governments, local governments, the JCC Association, individuals JCCs, and Jewish community leaders to address the threat in a holistic manner.  We look forward to your response.

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