Letter Threatens Violence Against Presbyterians' 'Anti-Jewish Attitudes'

(CNSNews.com) - Two American Jewish leaders says they are "disgusted and outraged" by threats of violence made against Presbyterian Churches.

In a statement issued Sunday, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, and Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, called the people who made the threats "thugs" who are "far outside the mainstream of American Jewry."

The Presbyterian Church USA recently said it would stop investing in companies that do business with Israel -- an effort, the church says, to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although many Jews see it as an unhelpful, anti-Israel move.

Last week, the Presbyterian Church (USA) said it had received a letter threatening arson attacks on its churches for its "anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attitudes."

"Their (sic) will be Arson attacks against Presbyterian Churches with people inside there will be bloodshed," the letter said. "I promise violence against Presbyterian Churches - They will go up in flames, bet you're a** that's a terrorist threat."

Jerry Van Marter, director of the Presbyterian News Service, said that the handwritten letter -- addressed to the church's Louisville, Ky., headquarters -- carried a Queens, N.Y., postmark.

The letter set a Nov. 15 deadline for the church to "reverse" its Middle East policies -- "or else," Van Marter said.

Van Marter said church officials notified federal authorities and have tightened security. In fact, the Presbyterian News Service website now offers safety precautions for churches -- including extra lighting, alarm systems, and trimming shrubbery.

In their statement, Rabbis Yoffie and Saperstein, speaking as representatives of the largest branch of American Judaism, said they condemned the "reprehensible threats -- forcibly, vigorously, and unequivocally.

"We will, of course, continue to raise concerns about the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s policy, but, at the same time, we stand with the Presbyterian community in denouncing these threats. They have no place, no place, in public debate."

The Union for Reform Judaism says it represents 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 900 congregations in the United States and Canada.