JEWS: Rabbi speaks about increase in anti-Semitic incidents as police issue warrants for Carolina Shores flier distributor

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WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Police in Brunswick County identified and issued warrants for the arrest of a person alleged to have distributed anti-semitic fliers in Carolina Shores, members of the Jewish community worry about a continued uptick in anti-Semitic incidents.

Rabbi Emily Losben-Ostrov said in the six years since moving to Wilmington…there have been isolated incidents of anti-semitism that she has seen… like a single flyer or swastika being painted.

However, she said this is the first time she’s seen a larger effort to spread hate against her faith.

She said these incidents are meant to spread fear among her congregation, and other ones across the Cape Fear.

“As a leader in the Jewish community, not only am I personally saddened and angry and hurt, but like so many of our congregates, our Jews here, there is a sense of fear,” Losben-Ostrov said. “And as I have said all along, we can not ever let fear keep us from our faith.”

While she isn’t sure whether the conflict in Israel and Gaza was a major cause of the Carolina Shores incidents, Losben-Ostrov sait incidents like it are disturbing.

“I’m not sure if any of those flyers that were left in Carolina Shores spoke at all about the current situation in Israel and in Gaza. But this climate right now is unfortunately very ripe for anti-Semitism. Very ripe for there to be calls and tropes and anti-Semitic lies.”

The rabbi says she would like to thank the Brunswick County sheriff’s office for taking the incident seriously and for protecting not only Jewish residents but everyone else living in Carolina Shores as well.

Source: https://www.wwaytv3.com/rabbi-speaks-about-increase-in-anti-semitic-incidents-as-police-issue-warrants-for-carolina-shore-flier-distributor/