The San Diego State University (SDSU) Chabad House was vandalized for the second time in two months on June 25.
CBS 8 and San Diego Jewish World reported that security footage shows two women tearing a banner and attempting to pull down the Chabad menorah. The Chabad Rabbi, Chalom Boudjnah told CBS 8, “They just came by the Chabad House and started tearing out the banner behind us. They went from one side, grabbed a piece of it, went to the other side and started tearing the banner. If that wasn’t enough, they decided to go and destroy part of the menorah.” He added that it was “very, very upsetting” and “frustrating.” In April, the Chabad House was burglarized.
Jewish students at SDSU set up a GoFundMe page to help the Chabad house repair the vandalism. Rabbi Boudjnah wrote on the GoFundMe page that the Chabad is looking into “a few things we could do in the short term to improve security” and that “in the long term we will be applying for the federal security grant to address more substantial security concerns.”
The university released a statement calling the recent vandalism “appalling.” “We want all members of our Jewish community to know: We are with you in anger, but urge you not to allow this incident to make you question your place at SDSU. We are committed to you and fostering a welcome and inclusive environment.” The statement added that they are convening a task force to address antisemitism on campus.
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted, “Thank you to the university for this statement of support and we look forward to seeing further action to make campus a welcoming place for Jewish students.”
Another #antisemitic incident at the Chabad House of @SDSU — the second time in the last two months this has happened.
Thank you to the university for this statement of support and we look forward to seeing further action to make campus a welcoming place for Jewish students. pic.twitter.com/AEwFuKZfvK— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) June 28, 2021
Combat Antisemitism also tweeted that the vandalism was “abhorrent” and they “stand in solidarity with the local Jewish community experiencing this hatred.”
For the second time in recent months, the @SDSU Chabad house was targeted in an abhorrent act of antisemitic vandalism, with an outdoor menorah being damaged and a banner torn.
We stand in solidarity with the local Jewish community experiencing this hatred. pic.twitter.com/t1fJ6Du8as
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) June 27, 2021
Anti-Defamation League San Diego Regional Director Tammy Gillies said in a statement to the Journal, “We are once again saddened and angered to hear about this latest incident of vandalism at Chabad at San Diego State University. San Diego State University has seen too many incidents of antisemitism on its campus. We look forward to working with the Presidential Task Force on Antisemitism to ensure that SDSU is a safe and welcoming place for Jewish students. With antisemitism on the rise across the country, this Task Force is more important than ever before and must take action to protect our Jewish students.”
