UC Hastings probes possible hate crime

A Jewish symbol adorning a student’s front door on the UC Hastings campus in San Francisco was partially set on fire by a vandal, and police are investigating the incident as a possible antiSemitic hate crime, officials said.

A student living at McAllister Tower noticed the mezuzah affixed to his door frame was defaced Monday, according to the Jewish Law Students Association.

The mezuzah, which contains a scroll of Hebrew verses from the Torah, is commonly placed on door frames by those of the Jewish faith.

UC Hastings Chancellor David Faigman sent out a letter to students, faculty and staff Wednesday morning condemning “what appears to be a cowardly act of anti-Semitism.”

“I am deeply troubled by the possible implications of such an act on our campus,” Faigman wrote. “We will not tolerate hateful actions of any sort against members of our community. UC Hastings is dedicated to the principals of diversity and inclusion.”

It’s suspected the vandalism might have been committed Sunday, the Jewish holiday Purim, said Jacob Erez, vice president of the association.

“It’s a very disturbing event,” said Erez, drawing a parallel to the recent wave of bomb threats at Jewish community centers nationwide, including several in the Bay Area. “We hear about it happening all over the country and then, boom, it hits the school.”

University spokesman Alex Shapiro said he hadn’t heard of any similar incident in the six years he has worked at the school.

Anyone with more information is encouraged to call UC Hastings campus police at (415) 525-4611. Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno