Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on May 23, 2021

A photograph of the vandalism that occurred at Congregation Chaverim at some point between 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 19, 2021.(Photo: Congregation Chaverim)

Days after a Tucson synagogue welcomed members back inside for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a vandal smashed the door, leading some in the area's Jewish community to worry they're being targeted due to rising tensions over theIsraeli-Palestinian conflict.

The vandalism happened at Congregation Chaverim at some point between 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Tucson Police Department.

The department said the synagogue's front door was damaged, leaving a "rock-size hole not big enough for anyone to enter."

No suspects had been identified as of Wednesday afternoon.

Among the synagogue's members is state Rep. Alma Hernandez, D-Tucson, who posted about the incident on Twitter and said she was a "complete mess in tears."

Hernandez told The Arizona Republic the synagogue is "fairly small" and tucked inside of a community, making it unlikelythat the incident was accidental.

"Someone deliberately, purposefully went to do this," she said. "That's what's so unsettling and makes us feel so unsafe."

Hernandez said she believes the incident is tied to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has heightened in recent days and left scores of people dead as others around the world, including President Joe Biden, urge a cease-fire.

Rep. Alma Hernandez, D-Tucson, left, and Rep. Jennifer Pawlik, D-Chandler, are sworn in during the opening of the Arizona Legislature at the state Capitol Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Phoenix.(Photo: Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press)

Hernandez said she's seen "a lot" ofanti-Semitic discourse and misinformation regarding the conflict moving throughout social media and other channels, leading to "more anger and hate" toward Jews.

She's been vocal about those concerns on Twitter, but also told The Republic that attacking Jewish people because of the actions of the Israeli military is "wrong."

"We shouldn't have to pay the price here in Arizona, or anywhere, for what's going on in the Middle East," she said.

Hernandez said whoever committed the vandalism is trying to intimidate the congregation, adding that it's "scary" to think about what could happen in the days ahead as the conflict overseas continues.

"Right now, it's a thrown rock and breaking the front door. Next week, it could be putting the building on fire or something of that nature that I don't wish on anyone," she said.

Hernandez said sheand others at the synagoguewon't letfear win.

"We're not going to be scared, we're not going to back down and we're not going to stop showing up at services," she said.

The synagogue has hired off-duty police officers as security during services for the last several years, but Rabbi Stephanie Aaron said they're hoping to boost security detail and add cameras and fencing in response to the vandalism.

Though Aaron said there's been small vandalism incidents at the synagogue over the years, the latest was "much worse."

"This felt very huge, very large a very huge piece of hatred aimed at us as Jews," she said. "That feels frightening."

Aaron said the synagogue had just returned to in-person services earlier in the week, after pivoting to virtual services and ceremonies since last March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We joyously reentered the synagogue, only to have this happen basically a day later," she said.

Though she and others at the synagogue are shaken by the vandalism, Aaron said what she most wants is a conversation with whomever is responsible.

"My feeling really is to reach out and say, 'Let's speak to each other if you have things to say,'" she said. "That's really what I feel. I'm feeling shocked by it, I'm feeling frightened by it. I would like to say to this individual or individuals, hatred really will never get us anywhere."

Aaron said she grew up in Tucson and has always felt a sense of "mutual respect for all religions and all types of people."

Though she said the congregation feels "wounded" by what happened,she emphasized her community's strength and willingness to"make a place of shalom," the Hebrew word for peace,for everyone.

Hernandez said a vigil to show solidarity with the synagogue and larger Jewish community would be held at the synagogue at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Reach the reporter at bfrank@arizonarepublic.comor 602-444-8529. Follow her on Twitter @brieannafrank.

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'We're not going to be scared': Rep. Alma Hernandez decries vandalism at Tucson synagogue - The Arizona Republic

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