Chicago Synagogues Targeted in Rash of Hate Crimes

Stand for Israel  |  May 20, 2019

This year, we’ve been alarmed at the growing number of anti-Semitic attacks and incidents not only occurring in Israel, but around the world. And now, Jewish places of worship in Chicago, where The Fellowship’s U.S. offices are, have been targeted. The Times of Israel reports on the rash of attacks on synagogues that occurred in Chicago over the weekend, leading authorities to beef up security at Jewish schools, businesses, and temples in the area:

Police in Chicago have beefed up security for the local Jewish community following separate incidents of vandalism and attempted arson at local synagogues over the weekend.

Worshipers who arrived at Congregation Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel synagogue in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood Sunday morning discovered broken glass and charred black rags outside the building.

Police later confirmed that an unknown assailant twice attempted to set the building on fire around midnight on Saturday. No one was injured and there was no damage to the synagogue.

Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said police were also investigating vandalism outside several synagogues in the city’s West Rogers Park neighborhood, where the windows of cars parked outside the building were smashed early Sunday morning.

Guglielmi said Jewish schools, businesses and synagogues in the city would receive “special attention” while detectives probed the suspected hate crimes…