Vandals damage Jewish cemetery

Tensions remain high in Jewish communities across the United States as police in Missouri are investigating vandalism over the past week at a historic Jewish cemetery. Police confirmed Monday that vandals toppled and damaged about 100 headstones at the Chesed Shel Emeth Society cemetery in St. Louis. The report of the break-in came on the same day that the White House denounced 11 bomb threats against Jewish Community Centers. Police are reviewing security camera footage in the areas surrounding the cemetery but would not say if they considered the vandalism to be a hate crime. The investigation into the cemetery break-in came as those 11 bomb threats were reported by various Jewish centers across the country. Community centers in United States and Canada have received 69 threats at 54 centers since January. No bombs have been found, but Jewish leaders hesitate to label the calls “hoaxes.” The Anti-Defamation League said in a statement: “While ADL does not have any information at this time to indicate the presence of any actual bombs at any of the institutions threatened, the threats themselves are alarming, disruptive, and must always been taken seriously.” Though the White House denounced the bomb threats, the Trump administration has faced criticism for not been forceful enough to rebuking acts of anti-Semitism that have occurred since his election. Also on Monday, Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism, tweeted: "America is a nation built on the principle of religious tolerance. We must protect our houses of worship & religious centers. #JCC".

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