JCC receives second bomb threat in two weeks

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The JCC of Greater Baltimore received an antisemitic bomb threat via email on Tuesday, the second in two weeks. The community center received the first bomb threat on May 15 at around 1 a.m.

Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC
Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC (Jesse Berman)

The language in the most recent threat was found to be consistent with the language used in the original bomb threat, which led to an evacuation of the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC on May 15.

This time, there was no need for an evacuation, but the staff at the Weinberg Park Heights JCC was cleared following the situation.

The bomb threat was ultimately deemed not credible by security officials and local police, who performed a search of both buildings to ensure their safety.

This threat is just one in a series of bomb threats that have been sent to JCCs across North America. According to media reports, 18 different JCCs received noncredible bomb threat emails in 2022 as of March — and the number has only grown since then.

“This is a good time to remind everyone that if you see something, please say something,” JCC CEO Barak Hermann and Board Chair Laura Rubenstein said in a security update on Tuesday. “Please alert JCC security in both lobbies or a staff member if you see anything suspicious, including unattended bags, in and around our buildings.”

This bomb threat occurred on what Hermann and Rubenstein described as “another awful and tragic day for our country.” Only a few hours later, 19 children and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, an incident which was also mentioned in the security update.

Hermann and Rubenstein encouraged people with any questions about the current situation to direct them to Chief Operations Officer Paul Lurie or someone else on the JCC membership team.

“Our appreciation to our amazing staff for their continued professionalism managing these unfortunate situations,” Hermann and Rubenstein said.

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