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The Indiana interdenominational community is mobilizing around a conservative Jewish synagogue vandalized with Nazi symbols this weekend.
A few days after Shaarey Tefilla congregation in Carmel, Indiana, discovered the anti-Semitic symbols sprayed on a brick structure, members of the Jewish community and interdenominational allies gathered in the synagogue to show their support. 19659002] Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow said at the Monday evening meeting that even though he believed that vandalism was "motivated by hate", he was encouraged by the outpouring of love that He provoked.
"Because [vandalism] arrived, this synagogue is full of brothers and sisters of good will," Sendrow told the room full of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Christian leaders. "All [the vandals] woke the sleeping giant of love and acceptance and mutual respect."
"This gathering is what we are," he added. "What is painted on the walls there, it does not represent Carmel, Indianapolis, Indiana or America."
Watch a live stream of the interfaith meeting below.
According to Lindsay Shipps synagogue spokesman, two Nazi bombs painted with swastikas and two iron crosses – a German military medal adopted by the Nazi regime – on a structure that houses the garbage dumpster. the congregation Shaarey Tefilla.
Surveillance footage shows two people painting the symbols on the property of the synagogue from 23h. Friday around 2:30 am, Shipps told the Washington Post. There was also evidence that the vandals had an incendiary device with them that left burning marks on the brick wall. The graffiti was discovered Saturday afternoon.
Members of the Shaarey Tefilla congregation were stunned by the incident, Shipps told HuffPost.
"They saw this happen in other communities day after day, and suddenly, it's here at home," she said. "I've seen people falling into tears, people are shaking their heads in astonishment, people are immediately rolling up their sleeves and wanting to help clean up.There are others who want this to stay to show the others how much this hate has become shattered. "
Eli Keren, a member of the synagogue, told the Indianapolis Star that he was angry and disappointed when he saw the symbols.
"For me to be able to see that, it's a bit like home," Keren told the newspaper on Sunday. "I am the first generation after the Holocaust, my father's family comes from Poland, my mother's family comes from Hungary, and 90% of our family went to smoke just under this flag (concentration camps). and that kind of hate and sectarianism. "
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard said in a statement that the Carmel Police Department was investigating the incident, but no one has yet been arrested, Monday evening reported. Indianapolis Star. The police service did not respond to HuffPost's request for comment.
Vandalism has prompted Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb (R) to call on lawmakers to enact hate crime legislation. Indiana is one of only five states in the United States that do not have hate crime laws in the books.
"No law can stop evil, but we should be clear that our state stands with the victims and that their voices will not be silenced", Holcomb tweeted . "For this reason, my intention is that we do something in the next legislative session, so Indiana can be one of 46 states with hate crime legislation – and not one in five . "
The cowards responsible for these crimes always hide at public scrutiny precisely because they know that their actions will be rejected by their neighbors and do not correspond to what we are as a society
– Eric Holcomb (@GovHolcomb) July 29, 2018
At Monday's solidarity meeting, members of Jewish, LGBTQ, Hindu, Muslim and other minority communities voiced their support for hate crime legislation in Indiana.
Aliya Amin, executive director of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana, described the reported vandalism of the act as "cowardly and disgusting" that affects all residents of Indiana. "It's time to diversify and send a message to our lawmakers that Hoosiers will not tolerate hateful acts against any community … It's finally time for Indiana to put legislation in place hate crimes, "said Amin. The Jewish Community Relations Council of Indianapolis, a local chapter of a national advocacy organization, also called on lawmakers to pbad a comprehensive law on hate crimes.
"The laws of a nation should reflect its social contract with all its citizens," said the JCRC of Indianapolis in a statement. "The addition of a law dealing with bias-based crimes would help align our laws with American values and send a strong message that hateful violence in Indiana is anathema to the core values of freedom and equality of our state. "
Defamation League stated that it offered a $ 2,500 reward for information about graffiti makers
America did not do a good job of tracking hate incidents and partiality. We need your help to create a database of such incidents across the country, so we all know what's going on. Tell us your story.
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