SEATTLE — Another Seattle synagogue is voicing its concerns after receiving a suspicious envelope, that prompted heavy police presence and hazmat responses.
"Have more love, more light and stop trying to scare Jewish people in the greater Seattle area, cut it out," said Levi Levitin, a rabbi for Chabad Capitol Hill & Central District.
A stern message from Levitin reflected on a disturbing trend that's been popping up, throughout Seattle synagogues.
"We're not the first to receive a very similar envelope," Levitin said.
Levitin called the police on Saturday night after 7 p.m. after receiving a suspicious envelope in the mail.
"Probably about a foot and it was heavy inside," Levitin said. "As I'm holding it I was like, 'What is this?' I kept it outside, tape was all around it and I did not bring it in and I didn't open it of course."
KING 5 has reported at least four Seattle synagogues have been involved in similar situations in the past month. The incidents have prompted evacuations and hazmat responses.
"There's an individual or group, we don't know who, that is trying to instill fear throughout the Jewish community here in Seattle, so I was quite disturbed by that, especially with the rise of antisemitism that we have in this country," Levitin said.
There have been no reports of any injuries or property damage at any of the locations, including Saturday night's incident.
"I was very happy,” Levitin said. “I didn't think it was necessarily a life-threatening situation based on it wasn't in other synagogues, but it was the right thing to call it in."
Although these incidents seem to be on the rise, Levitin hopes it will bring his community closer together.
"We will continue to live our life, as proud Jews, continue to celebrate our Judaism and we won't let this distract us in any way," Levitin said.