Minneapolis Police to Increase presence Around Places of Worship Following Temple Israel Vandalism
MINNEAPOLIS – Minneapolis police will increase patrols around places of worship following an act of vandalism at Temple Israel, the city’s oldest synagogue, located at 2323 Fremont Av. S. The incident, which occurred around 2:30 a.m., involved graffiti referencing “Al-Aqsa Flood” – the name Hamas has given to its Oct. 7 attack.
According to police, at least two individuals fled the scene on bicycles. No arrests have been made as of Wednesday. A neighbor witnessed the vandalism and alerted temple staff,who then contacted police and Jewish community agencies,as reported by Temple Israel’s Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman to the Minnesota Star Tribune. In December, the temple was previously targeted with swastikas spray-painted on a pillar and a door at its Emerson Avenue S. entrance. The latest vandalism occurred during Sukkot, a weeklong Jewish observance continuing until Monday.
“This is not a matter of a political view,” Zimmerman stated.”This is hate speech, and we need to call it out in this very way.” She added she has been in contact with Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who is a member of temple Israel.
The incident comes amid heightened concerns regarding religious institutions in the city.Within the last two weeks, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported two separate incidents at the Al Hikma Mosque in Minneapolis. Police have made an arrest in connection with those incidents,and charges are pending.
