JCPA Condemns Antisemitic Firebombing of Governor Shapiro’s Home

In response to reports that the arsonist who firebombed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence was motivated in part by his views about the Governor’s support for Israel, Jewish Council for Public Affairs’ CEO Amy Spitalnick released the following statement: 

“Make no mistake: firebombing a Jewish elected official’s home on the first night of Passover because of his support for Israel is antisemitism. Period.

“This deeply dangerous attack is the sad but inevitable result of broader antisemitic efforts to target Jewish Americans in the name of supporting Palestinian rights – including deliberate efforts targeted at Governor Shapiro over the past year. It is also part of a broader pattern of increasingly normalized hate and political violence directed at public officials and institutions, driven by conspiracy theories and anti-democratic extremism. 

“Even as we’ve awaited more details on motive, this attack exacerbated already-significant fears in the Jewish community at a time of rising antisemitism – including the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history in Pittsburgh. The images of the room in which, just hours before, the Shapiro family hosted their seder, and the Haggadahs they used, all now burned and destroyed, elicited visceral feelings for many Jewish Americans.

“We are grateful that Governor Shapiro and his family are safe. This attack must be universally and unequivocally condemned.”

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