Shaare Tefila Head Rabbi Jonah Layman was shocked and angered on Tuesday morning to discover that his synagogue had been vandalized with antisemitic and hateful images. The banners and sign outside Shaare Tefila Synagogue in Olney were defaced on Tuesday, Feb. 10 with images of a swastika, the acronym AZAB, “All Zionists are Bastards,” and the word “genocide.”
Authorities still have not identified the culprit, according to Layman. While the synagogue has security cameras inside and around the property, there were no cameras facing the entrance at the time of the graffiti.
“I was feeling like this was inevitable. Antisemitic acts are on the rise in this country and around the world, and having these signs on the edge of the property is clearly visible to everybody who drives by, Georgia Avenue being a main road, just inevitable that the hatred that is glorified on social media would find an outlet on our signs,” Layman said.
According to AJC Assistant Director of Anti-Semitism Policy Jocelyn Flores, the attack is on trend with a recent rise in antisemitic incidents in the Greater Washington area and around the world. 86% of American Jews say antisemitism has increased since the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, according to Flores.
The hateful messages have not only affected adults, but teens as well. Sophomore Logan Druxman has been a member of Shaare Tefila for over six years. According to Druxman, the most upsetting part about the incident has been the message that the vandalizer was trying to send. One of the signs that was ruined originally read “hate has no place here,” covered by the spray paint messages scrawled across.
“It’s just horrible, because honestly it feels like people are not coming from a sense of education when they’re writing these things,” Druxman said.
According to Flores, the best way to combat antisemitism and support each other in the face of it is to push education. The majority of American Jews say they do not report antisemitism when they see it, and Flores said that changing this is the first step in taking action.
With about 230 families, the Shaare Tefila fosters a tight-knit community, according to Layman. He said that his congregants are well-informed, and, despite their anger, they have been anticipating such an inevitable act of antisemitism.
The hate crime on Layman’s synagogue did not deter his Jewish spirit. He says his community will continue to spread love in the face of hate.
“We are firm in our commitment to proudly identify as Jews and to proudly display in these banners who we are,” Layman said. “We strongly support Israel, and will always do so, not necessarily the government of Israel, but absolutely the idea that there should be a state of Israel.”
