Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Jewish Business News

Anti-Semitism

Montana Synagogue Seeks Police Protection From Nazis

har-shalom-montana

A Montana Synagogue has asked local police for protection from threats by Nazi groups. Some see this as related to an increase in anti-Semitic activities since Donald Trump’s election.

The Billings Gazette has reported that the Har Shalom synagogue in Missoula Montana has been under police protection after it requested help. The Jewish community in the city is concerned after people spread Nazi propaganda in the area. The Gazette further reported that the propaganda was not limited to attacks on Jews.

Please help us out :
Will you offer us a hand? Every gift, regardless of size, fuels our future.
Your critical contribution enables us to maintain our independence from shareholders or wealthy owners, allowing us to keep up reporting without bias. It means we can continue to make Jewish Business News available to everyone.
You can support us for as little as $1 via PayPal at office@jewishbusinessnews.com.
Thank you.

The synagogue’s rabbi, Laurie Franklin, shared the following in a post on social media:

“Yes, it’s unsettling to know that there are pro-Nazi sympathizers in the neighborhood. Further, we have heard troubling reports, both local and national, about incidents of intimidation, harassment, and vandalism directed towards Jews, Muslims, Hispanics and blacks that occurred immediately after Tuesday’s election. Our congregation members spent an hour together before services on Friday in a sacred listening circle, attentively hearing each others’ concerns. I invite you to get in touch this week if you want to talk.”

Rabbi Franklin also shared the following encouraging news about the moral support which her congregation has received from the local community.

“Here’s the good news: when the story broke on Saturday, I began to receive supportive phone calls and emails from our friends in the area. Pastors, leaders, and others from our interfaith community were deeply troubled by the news and reached out. Complete strangers wrote to say that they want to help us. For example, we found a bouquet of flowers at our congregation’s front door on Saturday, and a couple from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Bonner dropped off a fragrant apple pie for the Dances of Universal Peace. The Dances were heavily attended Saturday night, and people lingered long after to talk and visit.”

While Har Shalom did not directly receive any of the Nazi leaflets which circulated in the area, it was disconcerting for any Jewish community to see such things.

Now people everywhere are taking a wait and see approach as such acts have increased since Donald Trump won the election last week.

Newsletter



Advertisement

You May Also Like

World News

In the 15th Nov 2015 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:   ·         A new Israeli treatment brings hope to relapsed leukemia...

Entertainment

The Movie The Professional is what made Natalie Portman a Lolita.

Travel

After two decades without a rating system in Israel, at the end of 2012 an international tender for hotel rating was published.  Invited to place bids...

VC, Investments

You may not become a millionaire, but there is a lot to learn from George Soros.