TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- A Tallahassee synagogue is thanking the community for sending letters of love and support after receiving anti-Semitic mail several weeks ago.
Congregation Shomrei Torah received three anonymous letters in November that prompted the synagogue to put up surveillance cameras and request more police patrols.
Since then, community members have sent cards of encouragement to the synagogue.
There's a sense of peace inside the synagogue now, after being shaken just weeks ago when suspicious letters wound up in the mail.
"A lot of just very irrational and crazy stuff that really made me as a president concerned," said David Abrams, president of the lay-led congregation on Kerry Forest Parkway.
As WTXL reported in November, the letters contained pages about conspiracy theories. There were no direct threats or vandalism, but news of the hate bothered many.
"Our country is founded on freedom of religion, and if you feel fear in this county when you gather for your religion, then that's not right," said Lorinne Myatt, one of those who sent a letter of support to the congregation.
"It really felt like an attack on our community, not just their congregation," said Janeen Piotrowski, who organized a social media effort to get the community to write handwritten letters and cards.
"Something simple," said Piotrowski. "People want to feel less hopeless like they can do something."
"We're here," said Myatt. "We support you, and hate won't win."
Abrams said over the past several days, he's collected about 50 letters and cards.
"This is more characteristic of what Tallahassee is as a community than the three letters we got," said Abrams.
The synagogue says it's a touching act and is grateful for all of the love.
"We're all in this together," said Abrams. "Doesn't matter if we go to church or synagogue. We're here together."
The congregation is planning a special event to thank those who wrote a letter of support.
