Swastikas Found on Maryland Synagogue

Swastikas and other slurs were found spray-painted on a Maryland synagogue on the morning of March 28.

The Washington Jewish Week reported that the vandalism occurred at Tikvat Israel Congregation in Rockville; the graffiti also featured the world “Hitler” misspelled as “Hilter.”

Surveillance video from the synagogue shows a male suspect appearing to commit the vandalism.

The graffiti was removed on March 29; the synagogue’s neighbors put a painting on the front door of the synagogue that read: “You R Loved.”

Tikvat Israel Rabbi Marc Israel told the Jewish Week, “It’s horrifying, the level of hate that exists.” He added that one of the silver linings of the coronavirus pandemic is that “very few of our members were able to see [the graffiti].”

The American Jewish Committee condemned the vandalism in a tweet.

“Anti-Semitism and hate are on the rise in the U.S.,” it wrote. “We cannot allow hate crimes to go unchecked and uncounted.”

News from Maryland, where swastikas were spray painted on a synagogue last weekend.

Antisemitism and hate are on the rise in the US.

We cannot allow hate crimes to go unchecked and uncounted.

ACT NOW: Join AJC in urging Congress to address rising hate. https://t.co/ke3kwTB6M5

— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) April 1, 2020

The American Jewish Congress similarly tweeted, “We hope that this disgusting #antisemite is brought to justice soon.”

We hope that this disgusting #antisemite is brought to justice soon. https://t.co/7ciOQk6nY5

— American Jewish Congress (@AJCongress) April 2, 2020