Antisemitic Attack at Temple Israel in Michigan

A Statement from the HHRC

The Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine is alarmed by the violent hate crime that took place in Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, in what the authorities described as a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.” About 140 students and staff members at the temple’s preschool were safely evacuated, but one guard was injured. Across the country, police departments are increasing patrols at houses of worship.

This act of violence is not just an attack on individuals—it is an attack on the values of human dignity, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful assembly. Antisemitism in any form is unacceptable. When it turns violent, as it did yesterday, it demands a strong, unified response from every individual and community committed to justice and human rights.

We at the HHRC stand in solidarity with all of those impacted by this hate crime. And we join the important call to confront antisemitism wherever it arises—and to reaffirm our mission to educate, advocate, and build a world where all people are safe and respected.

We urge ever community in our state to learn more about the history and ongoing threat of antisemitism and hate-based violence. Only through education, remembrance, and action can we ensure that hatred does not prevail.

Together, we must stand against antisemitism. Together, we stand for human rights.