A Minneapolis synagogue was vandalised with threatening antisemitic graffiti on the second anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, prompting widespread condemnation and a police investigation, reports The Jerusalem Post.
Graffiti praising Hamas and attacking “Zionists” was sprayed on the preschool wing of Temple Israel on Tuesday night. The phrases included “Watch out Zionists”, “F*** Zionism”, and “Al-Aqsa Flood” — the codename Hamas used for its October 7 massacre. Additionally, 14 inverted red triangles, a symbol used by Hamas’ military wing to mark targets, were also painted on the building. The same symbol has been seen elsewhere in antisemitic vandalism since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, senior rabbi of Temple Israel, was informed of the incident by a neighbour. “My first reaction was outrage and pain,” she said. “This does not solve any problem, and blaming American Jews in Minnesota for what’s happening globally is hate speech — it’s antisemitism. It’s not about political differences. It’s about hate.”
A report was filed with the Minneapolis Police Department, and the synagogue handed over video surveillance footage to assist in the investigation. Police have not yet released a public comment.
Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, described the graffiti as “harrowing” and an intentional echo of Hamas’ terrorism. “It’s targeted and consciously imitating the mass terrorism of October 7,” he said. “It doesn’t get much more antisemitic and violent than that, other than the actual perpetration of the horrific acts.”
Hunegs stressed that the timing and message of the attack reflected a dangerous escalation in antisemitic expression. “We’re seeing someone taking the time, in the middle of the night on October 7, to vandalise a synagogue with the most incendiary, venomous message possible,” he said. “The perpetrators are celebrating terrorism against Jews and taking that message to an iconic synagogue in the heart of Minneapolis.”
Rabbi Zimmerman shared that both Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey — who is Jewish and has attended Temple Israel services — had reached out. Mayor Frey said the incident served as “a reminder that hate still tries to find a foothold” but vowed that it would not succeed in Minneapolis.
Zimmerman said the messages of support were comforting, though they did not erase the horror of the attack. “You feel a connection and camaraderie and support, which is very helpful, but it doesn’t take away the horror of the message. It does help to not feel so alone.”
A proud Zionist, Rabbi Zimmerman expressed a desire for peace and compassion for all suffering people, including those in Gaza — a nuance she said the vandals clearly did not grasp. “If you do understand the nuance and the complicated realities of the world and see each other as human, then you don’t do this,” she said. “It’s disregarding the humanity of others by promoting hate.”
Despite the attack, Zimmerman affirmed her community’s commitment to their values: “It’s not going to stop us from continuing to do our work — to do interfaith work, to move forward in being proud of being Jewish, teaching about Israel, and working towards peace and the mission of supporting this city.”
Photo credit: Lonny Goldsmith/TC Jewfolk
More News
