FL Chabad House Vandalized on Rosh Hashana Eve

A Chabad House in South Florida was the target of vandals who sprayed obscene and hateful messages on the eve of Rosh Hashana.

NBC Miami reports the vandals spray painted “free Palestine” and “(expletive) 12” on a sign for Chabad of Parkland. “Certainly it was a hate crime and it was intentional that it was on a synagogue, and that’s unfortunate, but our response to these types of attacks is to add a little positive energy and some light and love,” Rabbi Shuey Biston said to NBC Miami.

According to WSVN, the reference to the number 12 was part of an anti-law enforcement slogan and the synagogue may have been targeted for having a police appreciation breakfast recently. “There seems to be a connection with some anti-police activity,” Rabbi Mendy Gudnick said to WSVN. “There was also some other graffiti around the city.”

The vandalism was wiped off of the sign with help from a cleanup crew and Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, who attends the synagogue. “My message to the Jewish community is that, whenever we are faced with these acts of terror and violence and intimidation, we should all respond with acts of goodness and kindness and light,” Rabbi Mendy Gudnick told WSVN.

If you have any information that could help investigators, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.