A Jewish temple in California, still reeling from its destruction in a catastrophic wildfire, has been targeted in a hate crime, officials have confirmed.
Desecration of a Sacred Space
On Sunday, 11 January 2025, a member of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center (PJTC) discovered antisemitic graffiti spray-painted on an exterior wall of the damaged campus. The vandalism included the phrases 'Fuck Zionism' and 'RIP Renee'.
The second line is believed to reference Renee Nicole Good, who was killed in Minneapolis on 7 January. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was alerted and has launched a hate crime investigation, with detectives from the major crimes bureau collecting evidence.
A Community Recovering from Tragedy
The attack comes just after the congregation marked the one-year anniversary of the temple's devastation in the Eaton fire. That wildfire, which claimed 19 lives, ravaged the Altadena area and parts of Pasadena and Sierra Madre in 2024.
The PJTC campus, home to the community since the 1940s, was among numerous houses of worship, businesses, and homes destroyed. The incident represents a profound violation for a community already deep in the process of healing and rebuilding.
Outrage and Condemnation
Senior Rabbi Josh Ratner expressed the community's fury, stating they were 'outraged by this despicable act of antisemitic vandalism'. He emphasised that violating their sacred space with hateful words was a 'reprehensible act'.
Captain Ethan Marquez of the Altadena sheriff's station condemned the crime, noting that bias-motivated acts harm the entire community's sense of safety and unity. LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger also issued a strong statement, saying she was 'deeply disturbed' by the graffiti targeting a community in recovery.
The synagogue is now working with private security and the Jewish Federation’s Community Security Initiative to prevent further attacks. Rabbi Ratner affirmed the community's resilience, vowing, 'We will not let this vandalism diminish who we are or what we stand for.'
