(JTA) — Two Jewish schools in South Florida were placed on lockdown temporarily after ammunition was discovered adjacent to the campus they share with the local Jewish federation.
According to Local10.com, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County released a statement Tuesday saying the Boca Raton schools, which collectively enroll 1,302 students, were locked down “as a preventative security measure,” but local law enforcement found there “was no threat whatsoever to our schools or campus, and the schools are no longer locked down.”
“Authorities believe the situation resulted from criminal activity in an adjacent neighborhood,” the statement from the federation’s president and CEO said.
The day schools are the Donna Klein Jewish Academy and Hillel Day School of Boca Raton. Hillel is Orthodox, and Donna Klein is nondenominational.
Police have not determined who left the ammunition near the 100-acre Richard & Carole Siemens Jewish Campus, which also houses preschools, a fitness center, adult day care, low-income housing and special needs programs for children and adults. According to the federation’s website, it is the largest Jewish campus in the United States.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article erroneously reported that the Jewish Education Center was one of the schools that was locked down. It also reported that ammunition was found on the campus, but it was actually found in a residential subdivision adjacent to the campus. In addition, a photo accompanying the article was wrongly identified as the Richard & Carol Siemens Jewish Campus.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
