Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on March 6, 2017

MASON CITY | Alan Steckman, the president of the Jewish congregation in Mason City, received a startling message on his voice mail Sunday.

The caller said, "We gonna spray your sh---y synagoguein pigs blood. Watch the f------ out."

"It was unnerving to hear it," said Steckman.

He said when no one is at the synagogue to answer the phone, and calls are automatically forwarded to his home phone. He and his wife Sharon were out of town Saturday but listened to themessage when they returned home Sunday.

He said he is not normally paranoid but the call bothered him in light of anti-Semitic actions that have taken place elsewhere in the country.

"I've been here 30 years. I've never had a threat like this,"said Steckman.

He reported the incident to Mason City police.

The Adas Israel Synagogue is at 620 N. Adams Ave. Steckman said attendance at weekly services is usually 10-12and includes a family from Charles City, a man from Dowsand three Christians.

Michael Libbie of Des Moines, spiritual leader of Adas Israel, said,"In light of so many hate crimes going on in the U.S., we do take things like this seriously.

Alan Steckman, the president of the Jewish congregation in Mason City, talks about the message left on the synagogue voicemail on Sunday.

Alan Steckman, the president of the Jewish congregation in Mason City, talks about the message left on the synagogue voicemail on Sunday.

"Ihave been coming to Mason City to conduct services for the past 29 years. We usually have services once a month on Friday night and then have Bible study on Saturday. I also do weddings and funerals forthem.

"The really interesting thing about this is that I am coming to Mason City this Friday. We are studying the Book of Esther and the Festival of Purim.It is the study of Jews being targeted for destruction and the rising up against evil for all time."

Read the original here:
Anti-Semitic message targets Mason City synagogue - Mason City Globe Gazette

Category: Synagogue
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