‘Very, Very Disturbing’ Discovery at Florida Synagogue Has This Jewish Community on Edge

Anti-Semitic graffiti was found spray painted on the pillars of a Jewish synagogue in Miami-Dade County, Florida, early Monday morning — and it’s reminded the community that even Jews living in the freest nation in the world still face persecution. It’s the second incident in just a few days to impact the area.

Vandals reportedly spray painted swastikas and the word “Hamas” on the pillars of the Congregation Torah Ve’emunah. A member of the community watch, Yona Lunger, says she discovered the messages at around 1 a.m. Monday morning.

CBS Miami

“As I was rolling by I noticed some coloring on the wall. I back up again, looked again and I said ‘Wow, it’s a swastika’…It’s very disturbing, very disturbing,” she told CBS Miami.

One stunned resident who worships at the synagogue, identified as Michael Katz, called the act of vandalism “absolutely a desecration of something holy” and a “disgusting thing to see.”

The disturbing act comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Hamas and Israel.

In a separate incident on Saturday, a family living in a mostly Jewish neighborhood reportedly found the words “Hamas” and “Jew” written on the back window of their car.

The daughter of the couple whose car was vandalized, identified only as Rachel, said the entire community is “shocked.”

“No one knew what was going on, we’re like this is America, this is Miami. Why would we be targeted here? We’re supposed to be safe, free from anti-semitism,” she added.

Miami-Dade police are investigating both instances of vandalism.