Synagogues, Jewish businesses vandalized

CHICAGO >> Multiple Jewish businesses and synagogues were vandalized on the Northwest Side of Chicago over the weekend.

Sunday’s incidents took place just hours and blocks apart.

Police said around 7 a.m., officers were called to a synagogue in the 3600 block of West Devon Avenue for a man kicking the side of the building, trying to break a window.

Then, around 5 p.m., someone spray painted graffiti on both a synagogue and a cargo container in the 2900 block of West Devon Avenue. A swastika was found spray painted on the side of the building.

Rabbi Levi Notik said residents were packing meals for Holocaust survivors in the neighborhood when they walked out and saw the graffiti.

Rabbi Notik said the same man who painted swastikas turned physical and used racial slurs. Police said a man was verbally assaulted during this incident.

“Someone comes into the synagogue and says on his way to services he was jumped outside, it turns out it was connected,” he said.

Police said a person was taken into custody for questioning in connection with the second incident.

“It’s difficult, but we’ll overcome this,” Notik said. “We’ll get through it as a community. The way that we’ll overcome this darkness, this hate, is through love and kindness and positivity.”

Police cannot confirm if the two incidents are connected. According to the Concerned Citizens League, there were two other attacks reported on Saturday. Windows were broken at two Jewish businesses in the 2900 block of West Devon Avenue.

Vandalism was discovered at several local Jewish institutions and businesses. The police are still investigating whether the incidents are connected and if they were carried out by the same person or group of people. No official pronouncement has been made on a possible motive, but these have all the hallmarks of hate-based crimes.

These incidents come mere days after Holocaust Remembrance Day and in light of a worrying increase in antisemitism across the nation.