North Carolina Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Antisemitic Threats to Georgia Leaders

Ariel Ramos sent threatening postcards to a rabbi and state representative shortly after a new antisemitism law was passed.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 10:55pm

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A federal judge sentenced a 32-year-old North Carolina man, Ariel Ramos, to five years in prison for sending antisemitic death threats to a Macon rabbi and Georgia House Representative in 2024. Ramos claimed the postcards were marketing materials, but the judge gave him the maximum sentence, stating that "hate is not tolerated."

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of antisemitism and the importance of legislation to address it. The threats were sent shortly after Georgia passed a new law defining antisemitism, underscoring the need for strong action against hate speech and crimes targeting Jewish community leaders.

The details

Ramos sent postcards containing messages like "gas the Jews" and "Jews are rats" to Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar and Representative Esther Panitch, the only Jewish state lawmaker. The threats came after a neo-Nazi group gathered outside Bahar's synagogue, prompting her to testify in support of the new antisemitism law that Panitch co-sponsored.

  • In 2023, a neo-Nazi group gathered outside the Temple Beth Israel where Rabbi Bahar leads the congregation.
  • In 2024, shortly after the antisemitism law was passed, both Bahar and Panitch received the threatening postcards from Ramos.

The players

Ariel Ramos

A 32-year-old man from North Carolina who was sentenced to 5 years in prison for sending antisemitic death threats to a rabbi and state representative in Georgia.

Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar

The rabbi of the Temple Beth Israel congregation in Macon, Georgia who received the threatening postcards from Ramos.

Representative Esther Panitch

The only Jewish state lawmaker in Georgia who co-sponsored the bill defining antisemitism and also received threatening postcards from Ramos.

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What they’re saying

“You're not gonna silence us, you're just gonna kind of make us madder and we're resilient.”

— Esther Panitch, Georgia House Representative

“People whom I know and love and have come to love in Macon, showed up and said, once again, 'Not in our town,' and we stand united against hate.”

— Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar

What’s next

Ramos has the right to appeal his sentence, but the U.S. Attorney's office says they are ready to respond.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the serious consequences for those who engage in antisemitic hate speech and threats, and the importance of the Jewish community and its allies standing united against such intolerance.