Arizona synagogue vandalized with swastika, antisemitic slur

A synagogue in Tucson, Ariz. was vandalized with a swastika and an antisemitic slur over the weekend.

A photo circulating on social media and in news reports shows a swastika and an ethnic slur written on a side door of the Chabad on River with red graffiti.

KGUN 9 reported that, according to Tucson Police Department Sgt. Frank Magos, a suspect has not yet been identified. He said the graffiti was first found Monday morning, and the last time someone saw the door without the vandalization was Friday morning.

Rabbi Rami Bigelman, the center’s director, said he found the vandalism before he was scheduled to give a Torah class, according to COLlive, an Orthodox Jewish news service.

“We are obviously devastated by this,” Bigelman said, according to COLlive.

“There is no place for antisemitic hate crimes in our community,” the Tucson Police Department wrote in a statement, according to COLlive. “We urge the community to collectively increase awareness around places of worship and report any suspicious activities.”

Arizona state Rep. Alma Hernandez (D), who is Jewish, wrote on Twitter, “The amount of Jewish hate isn’t shocking. The silence is.”

Sad to wake up to the news that @Chabad on River was vandalized. When it happens to one, it happens to all of us. The amount of Jewish hate isn’t shocking. The silence is. This is NOT my #Tucson please keep #AZ #Jewish community in your prayers✡️ https://t.co/JqU8hsWuGc pic.twitter.com/UilVnugchc

— (((Rep.Alma Hernandez MPH))) (@almaforarizona) June 8, 2021

Cindy and Meghan McCain, the wife and daughter of the late Arizona Sen. John McCain (R), called the incident “disgusting.”

This one of the most disgusting things I have seen. Arizona we are better than this! https://t.co/8VJy7DkLKV

— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) June 8, 2021

This is DISGUSTING!!!!! Tucson should be ashamed – as should everyone in Arizona. There need to be consequences for this – NOW! Governor @dougducey – please respond to this and assure Jewish Arizonans we support them and there’s NO place for this evil in our state. https://t.co/ihWBw7RFkW

— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) June 8, 2021

The discovery of the vandalism comes amid a rise in antisemitic attacks nationwide, following clashes that broke out between Israelis and Palestinians last month.

The Anti-Defamation League in May said it saw a 75 percent surge in antisemitic attacks over the course severals weeks.

President Biden condemned the rise in attacks targeting the Jewish community, calling for them to stop.

“These attacks are despicable, unconscionable, un-American, and they must stop. I will not allow our fellow Americans to be intimidated or attacked because of who they are or the faith they practice,” Biden said in a statement.