Squirrel Hill synagogue, Jewish Federation office building vandalized
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh's office building were vandalized early Monday morning.
Chabad of Squirrel Hill was defaced with spray paint overnight. Congregants worked to cover the graffiti on the synagogue along Beechwood Boulevard.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh also shared an image on social media of their office building vandalized with spray paint and antisemitic messaging.
The organization released a statement calling on residents to report vandalism or other acts of hate.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is angered and disgusted by the acts of antisemitic graffiti and vandalism on our office building, Chabad of Squirrel Hill, and at several Jewish homes this morning.
This incident comes on the heels of a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7. The location and nature of the vandalism suggest that the criminals were targeting Jewish institutions, individuals, and houses of worship to blame Jews for the actions of Israel—a typical antisemitic trope. This group claimed that the Jewish Federation, the non-profit Jewish umbrella organization serving greater Pittsburgh, is "funding genocide."
The graffiti outside of Chabad included an inverted triangle, a symbol used by Hamas to mark targets for terror. These are clear acts of antisemitic hate and intimidation targeted towards Jewish institutions and houses of worship.
For a Jewish community still healing from the worst antisemitic attack in U.S. history in 2018 and now retraumatized by the worst single act of terrorism against Jews since the Holocaust, these acts of vandalism are particularly despicable. Vandalism targeting Jews is criminal hate speech, pure and simple. We condemn hate speech of any form, which has no place anywhere in Pittsburgh.
Any acts of hate must be reported immediately to ensure coordination among our Jewish institutions and with law enforcement.
Gov. Josh Shapiro posted on his official X account that the Squirrel Hill community "should not need to wake up to antisemitic graffiti in their neighborhood."
The Squirrel Hill community witnessed the deadliest act of antisemitism in our nation's history at Tree of Life Synagogue.⁰⁰They should not need to wake up to antisemitic graffiti in their neighborhood.⁰⁰Vandalism of any type of house of worship has no home in our…
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) July 29, 2024
City Controller Rachael Heisler released the following statement after learning of the incident.
"What is actually being protested if the end result is anti-Semitic graffiti on prominent Jewish institutions in our city? This is a devastating escalation in Jewish hate as anti-Semitism becomes more mainstream. In this moment, all leaders must loudly reject political movements - and their leaders - that promote vitriol, hate, and violence. To my Jewish friends and neighbors: I see you and stand with you."
At a news conference on Monday, Mayor Ed Gainey shared his thoughts and called for more acceptance and tolerance among neighbors.
"Come together, learn, and get together with one another, and build a city that is safe and thriving for everybody, where hate is not tolerated, where antisemitic behavior is not tolerated, but love and understanding and tolerance is," Mayor Gainey added.
Pittsburgh police are investigating the two incidents, saying in a statement to KDKA-TV that detectives are examining the possibility that the two acts are related, but do not have any suspects in custody.
Residents who may have witnessed the incidents are advised to report any information by calling Zone 4 police at 412-422-6520.