The only synagogue in Topeka has been vandalized with antisemitic graffiti.
The Topeka Police Department and the FBI are investigating the vandalism at Temple Beth Sholom where congregants discovered “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” spray painted on the driveway.
Rabbi Samuel Stern, the temple’s leader who recently visited Israel, told JNS that outside of Students for Justice in Palestine events at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., “there has not been a rise in antisemitic incidents.”
“Generally, we feel very safe in Kansas,” Stern added. “It helps that we have great relationships with our law enforcement partners at every level, and we are working with them to keep Temple Beth Sholom operating for all our congregants.”
On Feb. 22, the synagogue posted on its Facebook page that it had discovered “graffiti at the entrance of our property, featuring a pro-Palestinian message.”
“Obviously, targeting American Jews for the actions of the Israeli government is antisemitism. They have targeted other areas in Topeka, and all these incidents are under investigation by the Topeka Police Department and FBI,” per the post. “It was immediately reported to the relevant authorities, and we have received reassurance from our law enforcement partners that there are no relevant threats to our congregation at this time.”
The Topeka Public Works department removed the graffiti from the synagogue which was founded in 1920 when two congregations formed decades earlier, joined together. The congregation consists of more than 110 families.. “It is still my intention to hold our service, and for the life of the congregation to proceed as usual,” Stern wrote in the post, which was also signed by Frayna Scrinopskie, president of the synagogue board.
It’s deeply troubling to see this kind of hate and intolerance occur at a place of worship in our state capitol. The rot of antisemitism has no place in Kansas and I proudly stand with the Jewish community against this hateful act. #ksleg https://t.co/rgHEDsKyCp
— Dan Hawkins (@DanHawkinsKS) February 24, 2024
“Our synagogue has been here since the late 19th century,” the rabbi told the Capital-Journal. “We’ve been in Topeka basically as long as anybody has been in Topeka. We believe that this is a place where people are open-minded and generous in spirit. We believe that our neighbors don’t agree with this sort of thing.”
Ty Masterson, president of the state Senate, and Dan Hawkins, speaker of the House—both Republicans—stated that it is “deeply troubling to see the hate and intolerance of the antisemitic vandalism that occurred at a place of worship in our state’s capital,” per the Capital-Journal.
“The rot of antisemitism has no place in Kansas and we proudly stand with the Jewish community against this hateful act,” they added.
–JNS.org | reprinted with permission