Dear John,

Shabbat services were turned upside-down when five police officers entered the sanctuary looking for a bomb-filled backpack.

Fortunately, there was no bomb. The synagogue had been the victim of “swatting,” and the congregation’s president was not surprised.

“Swatting” is when someone maliciously calls the police with a false threat so they respond with their SWAT team, guns drawn. All of it is designed to instill fear. All of it rooted in hate.

Between July and August of last year, at least 25 synagogues across 13 states received bomb threats or were victims of swatting.

But in response to terror, the ADL Center on Extremism did what it does best. ADL jumped into action the moment these threats began, tracking the perpetrators across dark corners of the internet — where they spew their antisemitism and hate — and sharing the information with our law enforcement partners to bring them to justice. Thanks in part to ADL’s partnership with law enforcement, the perpetrators were arrested and sentenced for their crimes.

This is the horrifying reality of antisemitism today. Extremists are using technology to bring terror right to the doorsteps of our peaceful places of worship and other institutions. No one should have to live in fear for being Jewish.

But the fight isn’t over.

These threats are still happening. And we need your help to stop them John. When you support ADL, you fight alongside us against antisemitism, hate and bigotry.

Right now, your gift can have double the impact. Every dollar you donate will be matched 1-to-1, thanks to another generous supporter. And that means you can help us do even more to keep communities safe.

With your first gift, we can fight antisemitism and hate with action, and we can ensure that no one has to live in fear because of who they are or how they worship.

Please give today. Your support makes all the difference.

Thank you,

Jonathan Greenblatt

CEO and National Director

ADL