The man who allegedly plotted to blow up Temple Emanuel in Pueblo is expected to appear in court Friday. 27-year-old Richard Holzer is charged with a federal hate crime in a plot that Justice Department officials say meets the definition of "domestic terrorism."
The arrest has prompted the synagogue to install security cameras, though Rabbi Birdie Becker said increasing security measures has been a priority since the deadly attack at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue last year.
"Things did change and now they will change even more," said Becker.
But Rabbi Becker wants to keep the synagogue a welcoming place, and the public is invited to its regular Friday night Shabbat service as a way to connect with the community.
"We'll still come together as a community. Life goes on. Celebrating goes on, rituals go on, this does not change any of that," said Becker. "It never has. Anti-Semitism has been around for a long time."
According to the Anti-Defamation League, Holzer is at least the 13th white supremacist arrested nationwide for anti-Semitic terrorist plots or threats in the last year.
