Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on October 27, 2014

Employees and clergy at a synagogue in Lombard were still a bit shaken Wednesday after the west suburban temple was vandalized in an apparent hate crime.

"Theyre still a bit rattled," said Rabbi Andrea Cosnowsky of Congregation Etz Chaim, 1710 S. Highland Ave., on Wednesday.

She said several employees were in the synagogue about 7:30 p.m. when they heard the sound of glass breaking as windows were smashed. They immediately called 911. Police responded and took a 40-year-old Westmont man into custody, but charges have not yet been filed, according to law enforcement agencies.

The man allegedly broke a number of large glass windows and wrote graffiti on the exterior, according to police. The man also drove around the synagogue'sparking lot and onto the grass along Highland Avenue before crashing into bushes, police said.

Cosnowsky said the man was arrested when he was still breaking windows. They caught him red-handed.

She said the graffiti on the building was not symbols. It was prejudiced words.

She said none of the employees had any interaction with the man.

In an emailed statement, Cosnowsky said the Congregation Etz Chaim condemns the recent act of vandalism on our congregational building and the apparent bigotry behind it.

She said congregations from churches of other denominations in Lombard have offered their support.

We stand together with Congregation Etz Chaim with respect and condemn these acts of hatred and antagonism against any religion, said Sabet Siddiqui, a representative of Masjid-Ul-Haqq Mosque in Lombard.

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Man in custody after reports of vandalism at Lombard synagogue

Category: Synagogue
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