The property of a Los Angeles-area Jewish temple that was destroyed in last year’s wildfires was vandalized this week, officials said.
On Sunday, a member of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center spotted the lines “Fuck Zionism” and “RIP Renee” spray-painted on an exterior wall on the campus – the second line an apparent reference to the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on 7 January.
The incident was first reported by the New York Times, and the PJTC confirmed it in a statement.
“We are outraged by this despicable act of antisemitic vandalism, occurring just after we commemorated the one year anniversary of the destruction of our PJTC campus,” said Josh Ratner, the senior rabbi of the PJTC.
Ratner added that “violating our sacred space with hateful words is a reprehensible act”.
The Los Angeles county sheriff’s department said it had received a report on Sunday morning about antisemitic graffiti. Deputies took photos and collected evidence, the department said in a statement, and hate crimes detectives with the major crimes bureau will investigate the incident.
“Acts of antisemitism and hate have no place in our diverse communities,” said Ethan Marquez, the captain of the Altadena station. “Crimes motivated by bias impact far more than a single victim, they harm the sense of safety and unity of our entire community … The community of Altadena has endured significant hardship over the past year and acts of hateful vandalism will not be tolerated.”
The campus of PJTC, where the center had been housed since the 1940s, was destroyed in the Eaton fire. The incident comes just after the congregation and the broader community observed the one-year anniversary of the tragedy.
The Eaton fire killed 19 people and devastated Altadena, as well as parts of Pasadena and Sierra Madre, scorching a community garden, the country club, an 80-year-old hardware store, the Bunny Museum and numerous houses of worship, including the PJTC.
In a statement, Kathryn Barger, an LA county supervisor, condemned the vandalism and said she was closely following the investigation.
“I am deeply disturbed by the vandalism and anti-Jewish graffiti discovered at the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center,” she said in a statement. “This despicable hate crime targets a community that is still healing and rebuilding after last year’s devastating Eaton Fire and has no place in Los Angeles county.”
The synagogue said it was working with private security to prevent future acts of vandalism as well as the Jewish Federation’s Community Security Initiative.
“We are a strong and resilient community. We will not let this vandalism diminish who we are or what we stand for,” Ratner said. “PJTC remains committed to rebuilding, to the safety and prosperity of our community, and to living our Jewish values openly and without fear.”
