Law enforcement in El Paso has launched an investigation into a suspected antisemitic attack after two synagogues were defaced with Nazi symbols.
B’nai Zion synagogue and Temple Mount Sinai were spray-painted with red swastikas entwined with Magen Davids, according to images circulating online, reports The Jerusalem Post.
Rabbi Benjamin Zeidman of Temple Mount Sinai described the incident as a deliberate act of antisemitism. Speaking to KFOX14, he stated, “So graffitied on one of our retaining walls in the front of our building was something about Israelis being Nazis. I think it’s pretty clear this is something that was thought through, that the Jewish community in El Paso is being targeted, and that’s scary. So sadly, we live in this time where people feel that they have permission to express their hatred in ways that are destructive.”
Bill Carvajal, president of the congregation at B’nai Zion, reassured the community that authorities are taking the matter seriously. “We had an incident at our facility today where antisemitic graffiti was placed on our exit sign. The incident was reported to the El Paso Police Department and FBI who are investigating. We have been in contact with the ADL and Secure Communities Network and are coordinating with them,” he told KTSM.
The FBI is assisting the El Paso Police Department with the investigation, while synagogue leaders have emphasised the importance of security. Carvajal confirmed that heightened security measures had already been in place for over a year and pledged to update the congregation as more information became available.
Meanwhile, the graffiti at B’nai Zion was removed within hours of its discovery, CBS4 reported.
This incident reflects a growing concern over antisemitic threats in the United States, particularly as Jewish communities continue to be targeted with acts of vandalism and intimidation.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Justin Hamel
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