Vashon Island, WA – Synagogue Hit with Anti-Semitic Graffiti

Vashon Island, WA – King County sheriff’s detectives are searching for whoever broke into a synagogue here and scrawled racial slurs graffiti “God hates Jews” alongside swastikas on the walls of the synagogue.

Sgt. John Urquhart said the vandalism at Havurat Ee Shalom occurred over the weekend and was discovered by worshipers.
Urquhart said the break-in likely involved more than one person and, due to the crude attempts at drawing swastikas, juveniles were likely to blame.
“We think it’s probably kids. It doesn’t make this any less of a serious crime. This is a malicious harassment crime, which is a felony,” said Urquhart.

“The word is going to get out on Vashon about which kids did this and obviously we’d like anyone who hears about it to call us,” Urquhart said. “This is the type of thing that reeks of kids out there with too much time on their hands and getting into trouble. That doesn’t make it any less serious.”

Congregation member Chaim Rosemarin said it was important to let the community know what happened.
“It’s upsetting; it’s a little bit scary to know that people like that are out there,” he said. “It’s tremendously shocking. Different faith communities have always gotten along very well on the Island. We hope that it’s an isolated incident.”

Urquhart said those responsible could be charged with burglary and malicious harrassment, the state’s hate crime statute.

Community members gathered for a vigil at the Havurat Ee Shalom as a sign of solidarity against the graffiti and to condemn the person responsible.