City officials and members of the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, which lost its campus in the Eaton Fire last year, thanked the public Sunday following the racist vandalism of a mural.
The mural, which was added after the fire, was vandalized Friday at the congregation’s campus in the 1400 block of North Altadena Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“The community mural is a representation of the strength of our community and our ability to overcome the many challenges and obstacles we have faced in the recent past, and it is distressing and disturbing to see a local symbol of hope and perseverance desecrated with hateful messaging,” Mayor Victor Gordo said Sunday. “The sheriff’s department is conducting an investigation into this hate crime, and the perpetrators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“I have no doubt that the intended purpose of the vandals, to sow division and distrust, will backfire, as messages of hate always inspire a community to unity and solidarity,” Gordo continued. “The immediate response of our community, that of love and compassion and inclusiveness, has already shown our quality. I encourage everyone to continue to support our friends, neighbors, and strangers alike with the unconditional humanity and sympathy that reflect our values in all times.”
The mural by artist Miriam Hellmann, the Art over Hate Collective, the Sparks of Kindness Youth Fund and religious school students, volunteers and community members was created after the Eaton Fire and in response to earlier antisemitic vandalism at the site.
The mural “became something much bigger,” congregation posted Friday on social media. “It grew into a symbol of hope, resilience, and solidarity — not just for PJTC, but for the entire Altadena community. …
“Today, we are deeply saddened and outraged by this act, but we refuse to let it define our community,” temple members said. “We are working closely with law enforcement and our security partners as the incident is investigated and as we determine the next steps to restore the mural.”
On Sunday the congregation thanked the community for its support:
“We simply want to say thank you to everyone who reached out with messages of care, solidarity, and support since antisemitic graffiti was discovered on our mural on Friday. Your care and kindness reminded us that we are not facing this alone,” the temple posted on social media Sunday. …
“We’re also deeply grateful to local officials for standing with us, and the local and national media who helped shine a light on what happened. Sharing these stories matters. It raises awareness, confronts antisemitism, and reminds our wider community that hate has no place here.”
State Sen. Sasha Renee Perez released a statement Friday condemning the antisemitic crime.
“It is truly disturbing and particularly cruel to spread hate and inflict fresh pain on the congregation of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center,” she said. “This community discovered antisemitic graffiti had been written on a new mural that was created to foster community healing after a previous hate crime in January.
“The Eaton Fire destroyed the physical structure of this community, but their faith, love and generosity were unscathed,” Perez said. “I am deeply concerned by this latest attack and the person or people responsible must be held accountable. I know the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center congregation will once again find the resolve and spirit to heal from this act of ignorance and intolerance.”
The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations released a statement expressing solidarity with the temple congregation following the hate crime.
“An attack on the Jewish community and its right to safety is an attack on all of us,” CAIR-LA’s statement said. “Defacing a mural that symbolizes healing and resilience after devastating loss is an act of hatred that seeks to spread fear and deepen pain. Bigotry exploiting political events should be unequivocally condemned and rejected. Blaming and harassing Jewish community members for the actions of the Israeli government is antisemitic, immoral, and ignorant.
“We stand in solidarity with the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center and the broader Jewish community as they recover from this hateful act. Those responsible must be identified and held accountable, and we urge anyone with information to cooperate with law enforcement. We remain committed to working alongside our Jewish neighbors to confront antisemitism and all forms of hate,” CAIR-LA concluded.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose 5th District includes Pasadena and Altadena, announced a $10,000 reward in January for information leading to a conviction in the previous vandalism incident.
“I am deeply disturbed by the vandalism and anti-Jewish graffiti discovered at the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center,” Barger said in a January statement. “This despicable hate crime targets a community that is still healing and rebuilding after last year’s devastating Eaton Fire and has no place in Los Angeles County.
“I unequivocally condemn this act of hate,” Barger said. “I am closely tracking the investigation and stand ready to support law enforcement and community partners in any way necessary.”
Anyone with information related to this crime is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Altadena Station at 626-798-1131, authorities said. Tips may also be provided to the Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau-Hate Crimes Task Force by contacting Detective Hodaya Doherty at hhdohert@lasd.org or calling 562-946-7893. For anonymous tips The LA Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline is available by calling 800-222-8477.