Synagogue Leaders Left With Questions After Violent Threats

When a 19-year-old man was accused of planning a violent attack against East Lansing synagogue Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Rabbi Amy Bigman received a call from the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark Totten.

“Mark called me on Friday [June 16] afternoon and let me know about this person and that he had been arrested,” Bigman said. “I waited until he gave me the OK and then sent an email to our congregation at about 4 [p.m.]. That was the most expeditious way to let people know.”

That evening, the congregation was planning to celebrate its first ever Pride Shabbat Friday service, commemorating a month of celebration for the  LGBTQIA+ community during the traditional weekly marking of the Sabbath.

“We had really good attendance,” Bigman said. “I’m sure there were people who stayed home because of the news. I heard back from one or two people, asking some questions. I can’t ensure people will be safe, but I could tell them that we had security and that ELPD [East Lansing Police Department) promised to be with us over the weekend. I felt safe, but I don’t know if any of that mattered to them.”

Congregation Shaarey Zedek has a long history in the East Lansing community.

Amy Shapiro is a board member of the congregation.

“I was born into this congregation,” she said. “I left for college and had a life. I never imagined I’d come back here but I did about 15 years ago.”

She spoke of the history of the East Lansing faith community.

“We’re a small community of Jews,” Shapiro said. “We had to work hard to build this congregation. It was started by a few families 100 years ago meeting in their homes. The building came in 1969. It took a lot of dedication to create a place with not a lot of Jewish families.”

Shapiro said this new threat could prevent worshipers from making their way to services. The synagogue was already reporting lower numbers than before the pandemic.

“I feel frustrated and disheartened,” she said. “Threats are increasing. It’s easier to talk to people on the internet and believe the lies people have told about Jews for thousands of years.

“I feel helpless because I don’t know how to counteract the misinformation.”

The connection of the suspect to the congregation is unknown.

Neither Shapiro or Bigman knew of any connection the 19-year-old suspect had to the congregation. (ELi is choosing not to identify the suspect by name.)

“This potential attacker believed that Jews are destroying western civilization,” Shapiro said. “We are doing nothing [of the kind]. We helped create western civilization. Muslims and Jews helped create western civilizations, math and the sciences.

“We are loyal Americans and we participate just like everyone else.”

ELi asked Bigman what she would say to the man who wanted to bring harm onto her congregation.

“I think I would ask him why,” she said. “Also, I would share with him that I think that all of us are made with b’tzelem elohim, which means in God’s image. We’re all made in God’s image and God lives in each of us for what we are and wouldn’t want us to hurt each other at all, regardless of the faith or state we’re in. [The man] is obviously hurting from something.”

She went on to explain how her faith thinks about forgiveness.

“Judaism would say that people can be on a path of repentance and can be forgiven,” she said. “Judaism says that if a person wrongs another, they have to go to that person and apologize and make amends and that person can choose to forgive or not forgive. The person who did wrong is required to ask for forgiveness three times sincerely, and if that person can’t forgive, they can ask God for forgiveness. He can repent.”

Bigman isn’t ready to give up on the hope that the world can become a more accepting, loving place.

“Sure, it can be tough and frustrating, but I’m not ready to retire,” she said. “It can be scary that people want to hurt others and do worse than hurting others, simply because of their religion, race, gender. That’s hard that we live in such a world. But it makes me more resilient to do the work in our interfaith community so people can learn about us and what we believe.

“We may pray and vote and look differently, but we can work together to build a community we want to live in. I think that congregations will double down, learning about each other’s religions and traditions,” she said. “Double down on finding ways to make this world a better place. If that could come out of this, that would be something.”

After Bigman emailed her congregation about the attack, she also reached out to her fellow Lansing-area faith leaders.

“As you know,” she wrote to the faith leaders, “I’ve been talking a lot about anti-Semitism at our clergy association meetings, urging you to preach, teach, and discuss it in your congregations. I am writing to once again urge you to do so.”

The Islamic Center of East Lansing released a statement after the threat became public knowledge.

“The Islamic Center of East Lansing condemns violence against any and all religious groups,” the statement read, “including the violence that a Neo-Nazi domestic terrorist was reportedly plotting against our Jewish neighbors in East Lansing.

“We urge our state and national leaders to take the threat of domestic terrorism seriously and to do everything they can to reduce the likelihood of people becoming radicalized online. Many domestic terrorists parrot language that is eerily similar to the frightening rhetoric we hear from some politicians. This must end.”

Shapiro had a request for the wider community, as well.

“Here’s the thing,” she said, “people don’t say antisemetic things to me. The community can educate itself about what Judaism really is. It can speak out when people say racist or anti-semetic things. We are generally dedicated to helping others, to tzedakah, giving to others.

“We appreciate the support we’ve received and we thank the community. Mayor [Ron] Bacon reached out to Rabbi Bigman, as did [U.S. Representative] Elissa Slotkin.”