A Massachusetts man admitted in court on Monday to threatening to harm Jewish people and bomb a synagogue earlier this year. The case highlights a troubling surge in antisemitic threats across the U.S., which officials say has worsened since the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated last year.
John Reardon, a 59-year-old man from Millis, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in a Boston federal court. He acknowledged leaving a chilling voicemail at a synagogue in Attleboro, where he threatened to bomb the Congregation Agudas Achim and harm children. This voicemail was sent in January and has left members of the synagogue feeling deeply shaken.
“These kinds of threats are terrifying, especially for communities already feeling vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. He emphasized the broader context of increased threats against Jewish communities in recent years.
The threats came after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and triggered a long and devastating war in Gaza. Over 44,000 people have reportedly died in Gaza since then, with nearly all residents being displaced at least once, according to local officials.
In his two-minute voicemail, Reardon reportedly accused the synagogue of supporting genocide. He went on to say, “You do realize that by supporting genocide that means it’s OK for people to commit genocide against you.” Shortly after, he targeted another synagogue in Sharon, Massachusetts, leaving another message filled with violent threats, including “stomping their babies dead into the ground,” court documents revealed.
But that wasn’t all. Prosecutors also discovered that Reardon had made nearly 100 harassing calls to the Israeli consulate in Boston starting in October 2023. These calls, investigators said, were filled with intimidating and hateful remarks.
Now facing charges for his threats and stalking behavior, Reardon struck a plea deal. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of up to two and a half years in prison. His sentencing is set for August 14, where Judge Julia Kobick will determine his fate.
Reardon’s lawyer has not commented on the case. For now, the Jewish community, along with others, hopes this case sends a clear message that such acts of hate will not be tolerated.
