Peabody temple on high alert after BB gun vandalism

PEABODY, Mass. — A local Jewish temple is on high alert after it was shot up with a BB gun over the weekend.

The glass next to the front door of Chabad of Peabody Jewish Center was shattered late Saturday night, apparently with a BB gun.

The temple's rabbi says they are beefing up security and are being extra vigilant in the wake of the PIttsburgh synagogue massacre, when a gunman killed 11 worshippers last month.

But he said they won't back down.

"We need to really not let those who do things like this win. If we become afraid, if we don’t go to temple, if we don’t go to Hebrew school, if we change our ordinary schedule as a result of this, they’ve won," said Rabbi Nechemia Schusterman.

Peabody police said they do not believe this is an act of anti-Semitism. Two other windows of homes were also shot out Saturday night. It's not clear if they're connected, but police are increasing security around the temple.

Schusterman, however, believes his house of worship was targeted.

"I don’t feel like it’s part of a larger plot. I don’t think we're unsafe or anyone's unsafe, but I do feel as a country things have changed," he said.

People that worship here said they're been on heightened alert ever since last month's massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

"It’s like a lot of say, it’s like a whack-a-mole," said Rich Garnick. "Wherever it crops up, we have to go address it head on and we can’t stick our heads in the sand and let the title wave of anti-Semitism grow."

Schusterman said they will no longer be able to keep the doors unlocked at the temple.

A security expert visited the temple Monday morning to make sure the temple is safe.

Cox Media Group