Police respond to incident at synagogue
A package left in the mailbox of Congregation B’nai Abraham, 519 N. Main St., Butler, revealed drawings and writings of “someone probably having a mental health crisis,” according to the synagogue’s caretaker, Ben Vincent. Butler City Police and a bomb squad responded to the synagogue Monday evening, June 17, Vincent said.
Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer, the synagogue’s spiritual leader, said she called police “out of an abundance of caution” after receiving a “concerning call” from someone who seemed incoherent Monday afternoon. About an hour later, a person appeared on the synagogue’s property and a package was left in the mailbox.
Gray-Schaffer said the synagogue was evacuated by police.
Vincent said he was told by authorities about 6 p.m. that the box did not contain a bomb. Nor did the writings indicate anything “hateful or antisemitic,” he said.
“Everybody is okay,” Gray-Schaffer said.
While the incident has left the congregation “feeling very unnerved,” Vincent said his heart goes out to the person who left the box, who he believes is in need of mental health help.
“When you suffer with certain types of (mental health) illnesses, it comes with the territory,” he said. “But once you understand where they’re coming from, you kind of get it.”
Vincent said he feels relieved everyone is safe, though he expressed people should be vigilant.
“We have to live like that, sadly,” he said. “We have to be on high alert.”
“If you see something, say something,” he said. “We can’t take things for granted. We just don’t live in a world like that.”
