2 Roswell synagogues receive bomb threats

ATLANTA - The Roswell Police Department is investigating two bomb threats that were reportedly emailed to two different synagogues in the area on Sunday morning.

Multi-agency Explosive Ordinance Detection K-9 teams swept the two places of worship and say they found "nothing suspicious."

However, police say this seems to be part of a larger trend as similar bomb threats were sent to other synagogues across metro Atlanta. The threats have the Jewish community on high-alert.

Rabbi Jason Holtz from the Temple Kehillat Chaim says they are working closely with Roswell police to make sure everyone at their services stay safe.

"They're trying to make it impossible for Jews to gather together. And that's not what we're going to let happen," the rabbi told FOX 5.

Holtz said he saw the email at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday and immediately called the police.

"They had several canine units here," he said. "Turns out there was a hoax."

Marietta and Johns Creek synagogues were also targeted by similar threats.

"So, Jew hatred has been on the rise for, actually, years now and each year seems worse than the year before," Holtz told FOX 5. "Since Oct. 7, it's been a whole other thing."

FBI Director Christopher Wray recently testified before a Senate committee that ever since the Hamas attack in Israel, antisemitic threats like these have reached historic levels.

Even though the threat turned out to be empty, Holtz said the hoax was enough to put the Roswell Jewish community on edge.

"We let our members know what was happening, and I was getting emails, ‘Are we going to have worship services this week?' And some people are saying, you know, 'I don't know that I really feel comfortable.' And that's the cost," Holtz explained. "The cost is to not feel comfortable to come together. And that's what they're trying to do, is to scare, to intimidate."

Rabbi Holtz said he will not let these threats keep his congregation from worshiping.

Roswell police had a visible presence around the synagogue Sunday night.

Holtz said they're working with the department to increase security for their next service on Friday.

"We're not going anywhere. We're going to be open 7 p.m. Friday night for services, and we're going to be gathering here," Holtz said. "We really want people to come on out and to show their support, because they're trying to shut down Jewish life." 

This investigation remains ongoing.