13-year-old Boy Convicted of Synagogue Attack Plot Ordered to Read Book on Holocaust Hero Carl Lutz

Accident – Death – Obituary News : 13-Year-Old Boy Convicted of Plotting Attack on Ohio Synagogue Ordered to Write Book Report on Swiss Diplomat Who Saved Jewish Lives During World War II

A 13-year-old boy who was convicted of plotting to attack an Ohio synagogue has been ordered by a family court judge to write a book report about a Swiss diplomat who saved thousands of Jewish people during World War II. The teenager, who appeared in Stark County Family Court on Friday, pleaded “true” to misdemeanor charges of inducing panic and disorderly conduct.

The arrest of the boy came after an investigation by sheriff’s deputies, who discovered a detailed plan to “burn down and shoot up” Temple Israel in Canton, a small city located south of Akron. The boy was accused of sharing his plan on Discord, an online chat platform. In response to the incident, Sheriff George Maier emphasized the zero-tolerance policy of his department towards threats made against the community.

As part of his punishment, the boy will serve a year of probation and will be prohibited from using the internet without supervision. He will also be required to read a book about Carl Lutz, a Swiss diplomat who is widely recognized for saving the lives of over 62,000 Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust. Lutz issued credentials to Jewish families living under Nazi occupation in Budapest, enabling them to escape persecution.

Additionally, the teenager will continue to receive counseling from a licensed therapist to address the underlying issues that led to his involvement in the plot. The agreement reached in court resulted in the cancellation of an upcoming hearing initially scheduled for Wednesday.

In an effort to protect the privacy of the boy and his family, Stark County Family Court Judge Michelle Cordova signed an order sealing his name and other identifying information. This decision was made as the case gained national attention amidst increased scrutiny of antisemitism following the recent Hamas attacks in Israel.

The investigation into the boy’s activities revealed his involvement in multiple antisemitic Discord groups. An FBI agent and Stark County sheriff’s deputies questioned him and his mother, leading to his arrest. Discord, the chat app platform used by the boy, later confirmed that it had detected his online activities and reported them to the FBI, emphasizing their zero-tolerance policy against hate and violent extremism.

The boy’s arrest comes at a time when antisemitic attacks have been on the rise in the United States. According to FBI statistics, antisemitic hate crimes increased by 25% from 2021 to 2022. Jewish people, who make up only 2.4% of the population, are the targets of more than half of all reported religion-based hate crimes. Since the recent Hamas attacks, the Anti-Defamation League has tracked 832 anti-Jewish acts in the United States.

The rise in antisemitic incidents has raised concerns, particularly on college campuses. University presidents recently appeared for a congressional hearing to address the troubling increase in antisemitism. Their testimony was widely criticized, leading to a bipartisan resolution denouncing their statements. In the midst of the controversy, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, Liz Magill, resigned from her position.

In conclusion, the conviction of a 13-year-old boy for plotting an attack on an Ohio synagogue highlights the seriousness with which such threats are treated. The court’s decision to require the boy to write a book report on a Swiss diplomat who saved Jewish lives during World War II aims to educate him about the consequences of his actions. The incident also sheds light on the growing issue of antisemitism in the United States, which calls for increased efforts to combat hatred and extremism in all its forms..