Anti-Semitism and synagogue security
The Baltimore Jewish Times this week has a couple of stories interesting both in and of themselves and in juxtaposition.
The first reports that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf two Baltimore-area brothers alleging anti-Semitism in the workplace. Scott and Joey Jacobson say they were physically and verbally harassed because of their religion. According to The Jewish Times, they were subjected to such slurs as “dirty Jew,” “stupid Jew,” “f—-ing Jew” and “dumb Jew.”
In addition, The Jewish Times reports, Scott Jacobson said a red swastika was taped to his vehicle, water was poured on him, and he was forced into a dumpster and tied to a fence. He was also shot at with a BB gun. The Jacobsons said their supervisors failed to correct the “hostile” workplace climate.
The lawsuit names Conn-X LLC, a Florida cable corporation with an office in Edgewood, and the Houston-based Administaff Inc. as defendants.
The second story announces that two area men, one of them a former Baltimore County police supervisor, have formed a security firm that specializes in safeguarding synagogues and Jewish gatherings.
Defender One founders Jon Krieger and Scott Wendell, both members of Beth El Congregation, plan to use active and retired police officers from area departments for the security details.
The Jewish Times reports that the firm has worked with Beth El Congregation and talked about security with the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore; it also is looking to provide security at Jewish life cycle events such as b’nai mitzvah and weddings.
“We are competing with several companies, but we haven’t run into competition where we are going—to the shuls and the events that go on at the shuls,” Krieger tells The Jewish Times.
