(CPMAJO release) Stephen M. Greenberg, chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman/CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, welcomed the letter signed by all 100 U.S. senators calling on the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice and on the FBI to intensify their efforts to protect the Jewish community from the ongoing rash of bomb threats against Jewish community buildings and organizations, the vandalizing of Jewish property and the desecration of Jewish gravesites.

Mr. Greenberg and Mr. Hoenlein said, “Today, we offer a hundred thanks to the senators who signed the letter to DHS Secretary Kelly, Attorney General Sessions and FBI Director Comey recognizing their efforts to ensure the safety of Jewish communal sites and the tens of thousands of Americans from every background who use them, in the face of nearly daily threats of violence and acts of vandalism. As we experienced today yet another wave of bomb threats designed to spread fear and intimidation and to disrupt ordinary daily life in communities throughout the United States, all of the members of the Senate stood up to say this is not acceptable and does not represent who we are as a nation. They also pledged to work with federal law enforcement to ensure that Jewish Community Centers and organizations are safe for everyone who participates in programs, activities and services they provide to the broader public.

We particularly commend Senator Peters, Senator Portman, Senator Nelson and Senator Rubio for their initiative in circulating the letter to all of their Senate colleagues. We also appreciate the tireless bipartisan efforts of members of the House of Representatives like Rep. Ed Royce, who also recently wrote to FBI Director Comey offering congressional support for the efforts of law enforcement to investigate, apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of this new wave of hate crimes.

The Conference of Presidents, together with the Secure Community Network, has been working closely with DHS, the FBI and state and local law enforcement throughout the country during this extremely difficult time, and we express our thanks to the entire law enforcement community for all they are doing to help make our community and our nation safe.”