Phoned-in bomb threat forces JCC evacuation

The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center was evacuated Monday morning after receiving a phoned-in bomb threat, its second in recent weeks.

It was one of at least 10 Jewish facilities around the country that received such threats Monday, according to an online report posted by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The JCC, 6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd. in Whitefish Bay, received the threat at 10 a.m., said Jenny Heyden, a spokeswoman for the Village of Whitefish Bay.

Whitefish Bay Police Sgt. Patrick Whitaker said Monday’s threat was similar to the one received Jan. 31.

The JCC was searched by bomb-sniffing dogs late Monday morning, Whitaker said. It reopened by 1 p.m.

Police have notified federal authorities about the threat, Whitaker said.

Mark Shapiro, JCC president and CEO, responded to the threat by reasserting the JCC’s mission.

“Without minimizing the impact or intent of these phone calls — it’s important to remember that the JCC is uniquely prepared to offer a safe and values-driven environment for all those who seek to live a healthy life: physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially,” Shapiro said in a statement.

“It is the very nature of who we are, and the great diversity of those we serve, that draws attention to our work and our mission.”

U.S. House Speaker and Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan condemned the threat.

“Anti-semitism, here or anywhere, is abhorrent and I encourage Wisconsin authorities to take the threats seriously,” Ryan said in a statement.

The JCC also was evacuated Jan. 31 after receiving a bomb threat. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency report said it was the fourth time in the past five weeks that such bomb threats have been made.

Other cities where threats were reported Monday included St. Paul, Minn.; Birmingham, Ala.; Houston; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Buffalo and Amherst, N.Y.

Monday afternoon, the Milwaukee Jewish Federation released a report that detailed anti-Semitic incidents in the area in 2016.

The report detailed four instances of harassment, threats or assault, and 17 involving “written or verbal expression.” Eight cases of vandalism were reported, including six that involved spray-painting or otherwise displaying swastikas.

Eight involved youths or incidents in schools and five were at college campuses.