The hateful image is shocking in its size and scope. A red and black swastika, flanked by black iron crosses, spray-painted on a storage shed in the back of Shaarey Tefillah, a synagogue in the peaceful Indianapolis suburb of Carmel.
A synagogue in Carmel, Indiana, was vandalized with Nazi symbols. Photo: Debby Barton Grant facebook page
Vandals defaced the synagogue on Shabbat, over the night of July 27-28, 2018, spray painting from 11 pm until 2:20 am. Surveillance cameras captured the vandals’ work, though so far local police and the FBI have been unable to apprehend the suspects.
“This has been a pretty quiet community,” Debby Barton Grant, the CEO and Executive Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis and a member of the synagogue, explained in an Aish.com interview. “I think that was what was so disturbing about it for me.” As a community professional, Ms. Grant has seen her share of anti-Semitic vandalism, but never anything so meticulous as the swastika and crosses that defaced Shaarey Tefillah.
Congregants didn’t know about the spray paint until a neighbor in back of the synagogue noticed it and alerted the synagogue Shabbat afternoon. At first, congregants debated about whether they should quickly cover the offending images and erase them, or go public with the hate crime their synagogue had suffered.
Corey Freedman, Shaarey Tefillah’s president, explained to Aish.com that he and most community members favored going public with what had occurred. His in-laws survived the Holocaust and it was important for he and his wife Brenda to declare “Never Again” when it came to neo-Nazi hate.
After Shabbat, Debby Barton Grant posted pictures of the graffiti on her facebook page. “I posted it on my personal page because it felt personal.” She wrote: “I’m disgusted and furious tonight that this has happened and that my beautiful State of Indiana is one of only five states in the country that lacks a hate crime statute. There can be no equivocation when it comes to rejecting Nazism, white supremacy, and anti-Semitism. Such bigotry in all its forms is antithetical to the principles of freedom and equality that form the cornerstone of American democracy and our pluralistic society.”
Her post quickly went viral and messages of support poured into Carmel, Indiana from all over the world.
And so did some messages of hate. In addition to hundreds of positive messages of encouragement for the community, many commenters left hostile notes, in some cases seeming to defend the neo-Nazi graffiti or trying to justify it. For Ms. Grant, both types of comments reflect her experiences locally. While her community is generally tolerant and open, a recent Federation study found an increase in anti-Semitism in Indiana. “It’s certainly more than we thought,” she said. Children in local schools have reported hearing some anti-Semitic comments.
David Sklar, the Assistant Director of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council noted when speaking with Aish.com that the Anti-Defamation League recently recorded a 60% increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States. “Indiana is no different from anywhere else in the country. We’ve seen an uptick in anti-Semitic incidents in the past two years like the rest of the country.”
He points out that Shaarey Tefillah is not the only Indiana synagogue to experience hate recently. In March 2017, a gunman fired a bullet through the window of a synagogue in Evansville, Indiana, into a classroom. Luckily the building was empty at the time and nobody was hurt. “Swastikas have been drawn on biking trails around the Indianapolis area and ‘KKK’ was scrawled on a university in downtown Indianapolis. Other KKK and white supremacist leaflets have been distributed in central Indiana, left under windshield wipers on cars or in bags on residents’ porches.”
It’s not only the Jewish community that’s been targeted. In February 2016 an Islamic center in Plainfield, Indiana was vandalized with anti-Muslim slurs spray painted on the building’s walls and some Sikhs in Indiana have recently been the victims of hostile comments and even death threats. In these cases and more, David Sklar notes, the local Jewish community has stood by their neighbors, condemning hate. After the vandalism of Shaarey Tefillah synagogue, other faith groups are standing with local Jews in their hour of need.
On Monday, July 30, the small synagogue hosted over a thousand people at a special gathering in response to the vandalism in an outpouring of support.
Over 1,000 people showed their support, cramming into the small synagogue.
Coming home from his synagogue’s community meeting at the end of the day, Corey Freedman was overwhelmed by the messages he’s received from all across the globe. The first thing he and his wife did after the meeting was look for photos of her parents, remembering their family’s connection to the Holocaust and the imperative they feel to make sure the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten. “We can never forget,” Corey explains. “It isn’t just a message for the Jews, it’s for all of us.”
(15) Reuven Frank, August 1, 2018 10:02 AM
America's turn is coming?
The Jews in Russia learned it.
The Jews in France have learned it.
The Jews in the USA are learning it, only much more slowly.
Certainly we need a strong America to continue to support
the Middle East's only democracy.
But, there is antisemitism in the world.
It is spreading.
It has come to the US many times and is starting to come more strongly and more often.
Jews from places like Indiana need to make Aliyah.
Just like the Jews from Russia did.
Just like the Jews from France are doing more and more.
Short story:
In 1991, during the first Gulf War, Jews made Aliyah from Russia even though they knew that they would be handed a gas mask
together with their Israeli ID card.
American Jews:
Don't wait until it's that bad.
At least the swastikas are still on buildings.
It will bee too late when they start carving them on the murdered bodies.
(14) Annie, August 1, 2018 7:12 AM
It must be sickening for these bigots that it has the effect of bringing people together (Jews & Muslims et al)
I am in favour of free speech and expression, but it's a privilege and those who abuse it should lose it.
Free expression need not include this sort of thing.
(13) Anonymous, August 1, 2018 3:52 AM
Sickening
One day, ALL will bow to the King...even these sick people!
(12) Ronald Rickard, August 1, 2018 3:21 AM
Disgusting
I live in Indiana and I think this is terrible. I just don't understand the hatred of so many people. Hashem has said He would b less those who love His people and curse those who hate them.
(11) Daniel7, August 1, 2018 1:49 AM
Neo Nazis Swastika commentary
Shalom, I write from Canada, Ottawa , I read the article on the Swastika iron cross item, ok the neo Nazi's have United with the KKK further also motorcycle gangs are also in this, the gangs have United into a neo Nazis movement which is anti semitist against most Religous so . The new Nazi's are a global order with recruiting in every state they also have recruited security both civilian and military. All of us are in danger and must communicate with each other, Jewish people, Christians , Muslim, and Hindu and others. Grouping together is the only way to stop all of it. In Canada of late I have not seen any reports , accept for ours which is going to the ICC. We have some support from some governments and are working on our case in spite of hackers in our phone. Must go God Bless you Daniel 7.
(10) Anonymous, August 1, 2018 1:02 AM
Holocaust Denial
What the Holocaust deniers will never admit: To so strongly deny the Holocaust, one must first acknowledge it happened. Otherwise, it makes no sense spending so much time & energy trying to convince the world of a non-event. Deniers know it happened; don't want us to know they know!Holocaust deniers will persist because they understand it strikes the nerve of the Jewish people.
(9) Barajas, July 31, 2018 9:15 PM
Democracy leads to nazism when will the wannabe anglos jews understand that america hates jews? And are considered the enemy! Israel return to israel no other choice.
Anonymous, July 31, 2018 11:20 PM
Get a new shtick
For every anti-Semitic episode, large and small, anywhere in the world, some Israelis give the same knee-jerkrespo nse: All Jews should move to Israel. Don't hold your breath. From the time of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BCE, most of world Jewry has lived outside Israel. For traditionally observant Jews the Babylonian Talmud, not the Jerusalem Talmud, is dispositive in religious law and observance. In modern times, the U.S. was instrumental in the defeat of Hitler in World War II, and without U.S. support the state of Israel would never have come into being. Israel still relies heavily on US. financial, military and political support. Fulminate all you like, but for years more Israelis have immigrated to America than vice versa (e.g. The Times of Israel, August 1, 2007). If we have learned anything since Nebuchadnezzar's rampage, it should be that all Jews, everywhere, need each other. Try this perspective: If you're an anti-Semite bent on eradicating Jews and Judaism from all the Earth, would you rather have all the Jews in one small piece of territory the size of New Jersey, surrounded by hostile nations, or spread throughout the planet with major concentrations in strategic places such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London and Paris?
Barajas, August 2, 2018 1:46 AM
The USA entered WW2 not for the benefit of the Jewish people only to benefit anglo americans. If you compare the USA vs Mexico during WW2 the USA entered the war to acquire German technology which is sick and evil. The reason the USA still is a powerful nation was because of WW2. Mexico did not benefit from that war that is why its not as developed as the USA. Modern democracies are no different than ancient Egypt, Nazi Germany or Nazi Argentina. Democracy leads to Nazism and anglo america has said out loud Israel and the Jews are the enemy that is the sentiment of tbe USA. I would not put my faith in the USA and as Jews in the USA there is no garunteed safety this is being made clear by Anglos. Anglos and Jews are different Israel must stand on its own.
Tracey Anderson, August 4, 2018 1:51 PM
Anonymous Equals Coward
Faceless big words, if you were legitimate you would state your name. Hope you're not a parent to pass on such a waste of existence.
Anonymous, August 1, 2018 3:55 AM
American
I love the people of God and I pray for them.
Rachel, August 5, 2018 8:21 PM
Democracy is the hope of humanity
Considering the fact that Israel itself is a democracy, your comment is just bizarre. In some cases, most famously Germany in the '30's, a fairly recent democracy initially elected the National Socialists to power, but there were Germans who either fled as their country became a dictatorship or were persecuted for refusing to accept the Hitler regime.
It is only when democracy is overthrown, from within or without, that fascist dictatorships arise.
(8) cynthia Adams, July 31, 2018 9:03 PM
Indiana resident
This makes me so mad. I am not Jewish. But I have been a great admirer of the Jewish people since I was a child. My Bible school class visited a synagogue. I was so impressed with the experience and have been all of my life. I am now 71. This breaks my heart
(7) Benjamin, July 31, 2018 7:33 PM
This is just sad
It is sad to see that some people want to restore the atrocities taking place in Europe in the last century. It is also sad that the makind as a whole never seems to learn their lesson, and it all keeps on repeating. Let's hope it will not transpire into the humongous scale that we have already seen. Only God can alleviate it ...
(6) K.H. Ryesky, July 31, 2018 5:20 PM
Leave the grafitti as it is!
30-something years ago, a friend of mine who was one of just a few Jewish homeowners in the neighborhood found a swastika spray-painted on his garage door.
After about a week, one of the neighbors asked his wife when the grafitti would be removed. She answered to the effect that prospective homebuyers had a right to know that this antisemitic element exists in the neighborhood, and that she and her husband were going to leave the grafitti there.
A few days later, my friend and his wife came home one afternoon to find that their garage door had been repainted.
(5) Bonnie, July 31, 2018 4:47 PM
I was recently in Carmel IND.
I have visited the lovely town of Carmel and have always felt safe and respected. I hope, G_d willing, to return many more times to visit my family. This senseless act must not go unpunished. Mostly, the vandals that did this must be made to understand the viciousness of the crime. Show them the pictures, make them listen to the stories and make them feel what it is like to lose your family to hate.
(4) Mayven27, July 31, 2018 3:53 PM
The world we live in...
These heinous ignorant mindless acts are inexcusable. Obviously there continues to be those bad contaminated seeds on the face of the earth that breath fresh air. A security camera setup at strategic places in all Jewish Cemeteries may help as a deterrence..and assist in preventing an open license for those of wanton ill-will. When will WE learn...WHEN will we ever learn...
(3) Abdur Rachman, July 31, 2018 3:23 PM
Despicable! Cowards!
It saddens me to hear and see this type of hate. There is no place in America or the world for such brutal hatred. May Allah protect the Jewish people of Indiana and stand with them. May Allah be with every diverse group of human beings, wherever they reside.
(2) Anonymous, July 31, 2018 2:10 PM
Who would do such a thing?
In many instances, it's kids who are the perps, not the latest incarnation of the Nazi Party or the KKK. Quoting this article: "Children in local schools have reported hearing some anti-Semitic comments." Growing up in NJ in the 1950s-60s, we heard this all the time. One of the favorites was "Hitler should have finished the job." Sad, but true.
(1) bill norgenstein, July 31, 2018 1:32 PM
KKK in Indiana
In the twenties Indiana had the highest number of KKK members.
Samson Ben Yoseph, July 31, 2018 7:40 PM
Strange State
Indiana also has
Palestine, Kosciusko County, Indiana
Palestine, Franklin County, Indiana
Palestine, Lawrence County, Indiana
New Palestine, Indiana
Imagine that.
Dvirah, August 4, 2018 7:18 PM
Update the "Palestinians"
Someone should update the "Palestinians" that they have the wrong address - Palestine is in Indiana, not Israel!