Four Jewish schools in New York, Florida and California were targeted by bomb threat hoaxes over several days, prompting evacuations, lockdown procedures and emergency responses from law enforcement. Authorities determined that the reported threats were false, although investigations into some of the incidents remain ongoing.
The incidents occurred between October 9 and October 12, raising renewed concerns about the safety of Jewish educational institutions and the impact that threatening calls can have on students, families and school communities.
Two Brooklyn Yeshivas Receive Threatening Calls
On Friday, October 9, two Jewish schools in Brooklyn received bomb threats approximately two minutes apart, according to local reporting.
The targeted institutions were Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School and United Talmudical Academy in Williamsburg.
Police investigated the reports and subsequently determined that the threats were hoaxes. The incidents nevertheless required a response from authorities and disrupted the schools’ normal operations.
Florida Jewish Preschool Evacuated
On Monday, October 12, a bomb threat prompted the evacuation of the preschool at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, Florida.
The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County later confirmed that the call was fraudulent. The incident ended without any reported injuries.
U.S. Representative Jared Moskowitz, a Jewish Democrat representing Florida, expressed relief that the community was safe. He condemned the deliberate frightening of children, emphasizing that targeting a kindergarten-through-12th-grade school is unacceptable.
The incident highlighted the importance of preparedness at Jewish schools and the need to respond quickly whenever a potential threat is reported.
Los Angeles Jewish School Placed on Lockdown
The same day, Milken Community School in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles was placed under lockdown after police received a report initially described as involving an active shooter.
Authorities later clarified that the reported security incident involved a bomb threat. Students were required to follow emergency procedures, with classrooms secured and students instructed to shelter under their desks.
One parent, speaking anonymously to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, described the fear experienced by their child, who was attending a math class when the alert came in.
The Los Angeles Police Department subsequently confirmed that the threat was a hoax, according to local media reports. The investigation into the call remained ongoing at the time of publication.
Security Experts Warn Against Dismissing Hoaxes
Security professionals who work with Jewish organizations cautioned that false threats should not be treated as harmless simply because no explosive device is found.
Richard Priem, CEO of the Community Security Service, said the threats should be considered within the broader context of serious attacks against Jewish communities in the United States and internationally.
He explained that even a hoax can create fear, disrupt religious and educational activities, and discourage members of the Jewish community from participating in everyday communal life.
Michael Masters, national director and CEO of the Secure Community Network, emphasized the importance of training and preparation. He noted that threats often arrive in waves and that institutions with established emergency plans are better positioned to respond effectively.
Masters encouraged Jewish institutions to review their security procedures, train personnel and ensure that emergency plans are ready before an incident occurs.
Preparedness Remains Essential for Jewish Schools
The recent incidents recall a wave of bomb threats against Jewish institutions in 2017 that caused widespread anxiety in Jewish communities. That earlier campaign was eventually linked to an Israeli-American teenager who was arrested in Israel and later sentenced to prison.
Security experts stress that educational institutions must take every reported threat seriously while allowing law enforcement to determine whether a danger is credible.
Although the four recent incidents were determined to be hoaxes, the evacuations and lockdowns demonstrate how a single threatening call can affect children, parents, educators and entire communities.
Continued coordination between schools, law enforcement and Jewish community security organizations remains essential to protecting students and ensuring that Jewish families can participate in community life without intimidation.
Credit: Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
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