A witness recorded a man spray painting “Free Palestine” on a Wisconsin synagogue’s driveway on the evening of Aug. 27. The witness, Julio Rosas, posted the video on social media.
The vandalism occurred during protests in Kenosha, Wis., in response to a police officer-involved shooting of a Black man named Jacob Blake, who was shot in the back seven times during a dispute on Aug. 23. The incident was recorded by several witnesses; Blake was hospitalized and reportedly is paralyzed.
Rosas, a reporter for the conservative website Townhall.com, tweeted footage of the vandalism:
Someone from the BLM crowd spray-painted “Free Palestine” in the driveway of the Beth Hillel Temple in Kenosha. pic.twitter.com/sJACaqZlai
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) August 27, 2020
Beth Hillel Temple Rabbi Dena Feingold told Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), “We support the movement for Black lives, and we know that one person with a can of spray paint does not speak for an entire cause. We pray for Jacob Blake and decry the vigilante murders that took place a block from our synagogue two nights ago. Our call is for justice and peace in our community and around the world.”
The “vigilante murders” is an apparent reference to a shooting on Aug. 25 that resulted in two dead and another seriously wounded. The suspect, identified as Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide.
Jewish groups condemned the graffiti.
“This is anti-Semitism,” the American Jewish Committee (AJC) tweeted. “Full stop. If you don’t understand why, you need to educate yourself. If you try to justify or explain this in any way, you are part of the problem.”
This is antisemitism. Full stop. If you don't understand why, you need to educate yourself. If you try to justify or explain this in any way, you are part of the problem.https://t.co/UHqhWhlO1g
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) August 27, 2020
AJC Director for Combating Anti-Semitism Holly Huffnagle tweeted, “An American synagogue — a Jewish house of worship — was just vandalized in response to a conflict in the Middle East. Blaming Jews for the actions of a nation state is antisemitism. Racial justice can never be accomplished by the disparagement of others.”
An American synagogue—a Jewish house of worship—was just vandalized in response to a conflict in the Middle East.
Blaming Jews for the actions of a nation state is antisemitism.
Racial justice can never be accomplished by the disparagement of others. https://t.co/AL1TSBLB5V
— Holly Huffnagle (@HHuffnagleAJC) August 27, 2020
The Anti-Defamation League Midwest chapter also tweeted, “We are deeply disturbed by this act of antisemitism and hate and will be in touch with the Temple to offer our support.”
“Free Palestine” was spray painted in the driveway of the Beth Hillel Temple in Kenosha last night. We are deeply disturbed by this act of antisemitism and hate and will be in touch with the Temple to offer our support. pic.twitter.com/DGW4os9KLd
— ADL Midwest (@ADLMidwest) August 27, 2020
Israel-based writer and Journal contributor Hen Mazzig tweeted, “How in a crowd of protesters, no one had the moral courage to stop a person vandalizing a synagogue? Doing this isn’t just bad for Jews, it’s bad for the movement.”
How in a crowd of protesters, no one had the moral courage to stop a person vandalizing a synagogue? Doing this isn’t just bad for Jews, it’s bad for the movement. https://t.co/oeJsXeGtdY
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) August 27, 2020
