Temple of Shalom considers safety changes after being targeted by antisemitic threat

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. —

A Port Charlotte house of worship is considering changes after being targeted by a threat.

Charlotte County deputies are still working to track down who sent a threatening email to the Temple of Shalom.

Now the temple’s president says fear remains, and security may increase.

"We do have security cameras outside and some things inside, but maybe we need more...I called an emergency board meeting for next week to see if we need more, what we can do, if we can afford it, how we're going to do it," said Temple Shalom President Judi Migdol.

Jewish leaders in Port Charlotte are still shaken after an antisemitic bomb threat was reported New Year's morning.

Migdol says that the threat has deeply shattered their sense of safety.

"I think I'm feeling worse today than yesterday, because yesterday I had to deal with it. Then last night, I had time to really think about it, and it's disgusting," said Migdol.

Deputies rushed to Temple Shalom on Thursday to sweep for explosives after an email claimed a bomb was inside. Deputies searched the area near Sherwood Road and Utica Avenue, but no explosives were found.

"I can't understand all the hatred that people have, and being Jewish, I really can't understand why they hate the Jews so much," said Migdol.

This threat comes just three months after police arrested a man for setting fire to the Chabad of Charlotte County in Punta Gorda.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office told Gulf Coast News this incident is not specific to the county itself, and appears to be a national trend.

"We're going to see what we can do to make us even safer. We pray and really pray that this doesn't happen again, and that people stop hating other people," said Migdol.

This investigation is ongoing as deputies work to identify who sent the threat.

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