LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas' Jewish community is responding to an attack at a synagogue and Jewish school in West Bloomfield, Michigan, with local law enforcement already increasing patrols at synagogues and Jewish schools across Southern Nevada.
WATCH | Las Vegas Jewish community reacts to Michigan synagogue attack
Rabbi Levi Harlig has personal ties to the Michigan city — his relatives live there, just minutes from the scene of the attack. He said the incident is a painful reminder that antisemitic violence can happen anywhere, and that community members in Las Vegas are on edge.
Metro Police increased patrols at local Jewish institutions following the attack. Harlig said officers arrived at his own synagogue within moments of the Michigan attack.
We also spoke with Stefanie Tuzman, president and CEO of Jewish Nevada, who hails from West Bloomfield originally. She added her thoughts on the bolstered security near her community in Las Vegas.
WATCH | Tricia Kean speaks with Stefanie Tuzman following Michigan synagogue attack
"When my cousin called me this morning to tell me what was going on, she said, Oh my God, there's hundreds of police cars and, and they're coming from all over, and you know we have neighboring cities within half a mile from each other there, and I said that's the system working right?" Tuzman said. "That's what is supposed to happen and we work very hard throughout the state of Nevada to build and enhance and strengthen our relationships with local law enforcement."
"What those bad people are trying to accomplish is to scare us… to make us hide our identity as Jewish people. The only response is to be prouder Jews, better Jews — and never back away from our community," Harlig said.
He said the response from Metro Police and the show of solidarity from Las Vegas' Jewish community are helping members feel safe while continuing to practice their faith proudly.
Tuzman echoed these sentiments.
"[Law enforcement] reached out right away, expressing their concern and their support for our community and assuring us reassuring us that they had increased patrol and law enforcement out in our community so our synagogue. Our day schools are going to see an increase in patrol over the next few days. There's no known threat to Nevada, but even just having their presence is reassuring to us that they're that they're there for us," she shared.
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