MINNEAPOLIS — Members of a Minneapolis synagogue arrived Monday to discover their building had been targeted by an act of antisemitic vandalism.
Two swastikas were spray-painted at the entrance to Temple Israel.
"It is heartbreaking to see such a hateful image directly underneath the words emblazoned above our doors, words that have guided us for generations: 'My house shall be a house of prayer for all peoples,'" Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman said in a letter to Temple Israel members. "Temple has always been a sacred space, a welcoming place to all who enter with a spirit of community and peace."
Zimmerman said Minneapolis police are reviewing the Temple's security camera footage, and the Temple's own security team remains on alert.
"I am proud of our Temple community, and of standing up for our Jewish values even in difficult times," Rabbi Zimmerman added.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who attends Temple Israel, said he supports MPD in its efforts to find those "responsible for this hateful act."
"These Nazi symbols were placed on my synagogue, where Minneapolis Jews congregate and deserve to feel safe," Frey said in a statement posted to social media. "We don't back down to fear, we stand strong, proud of who we are, and I know that Minneapolis - a city of inclusivity and love - stands with us."
Temple Israel is home to one of the ten largest Jewish congregations in the country.
