Beth Jacob Synagogue Vandalized Overnight

IRVINE, CA — The community of Irvine's Beth Jacob Synagogue was shocked Wednesday to discover anti-Semitic graffiti spray painted on the temple's outside walls, Irvine Police reported. The words "(Expletive) Jews" were scrawled in paint, Rabbi Yisroel Ciner said, just days after the nation was rocked by the deadly shootings at a Pittsburgh Synagogue.

The offensive graffiti tagging occurred sometime overnight on Oct. 31, at the Orange County synagogue, in the city of Irvine, Irvine Police Department spokeswoman Kim Mohr said.

Workers who arrived at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning discovered the vandalism and reported it to police.

Ciner described the congregation's resiliency, in discussing the racial slurs.

"We are not going to let some fanatic affect us," he said.

"Members of the Christian, Mormon and Muslim communities reached out to me after the horrific incident in Pittsburgh, offering their support and solidarity," Ciner said. "We are saddened that such hate exists everywhere, even in our backyard."

The CEO of the OC Human Relations nonprofit group, Allison Edwards, encouraged residents to continue to report all hate crimes and incidents.

"These things cannot go unchecked or unreported," she said. "We must support our communities, and take action in the face of hate."

The Irvine police continue to seek suspects in the crime, and asked the public for tips and information.

In Orange County, the number of hate crimes has risen in the past year, according to the OC Human Relations annual report. In 2017, Muslims were the most targeted ethnic group at 13 percent, with Jews listed as the second most targeted group, at 9 percent. Those hate crimes are denounced by the Irvine police department in a recent statement from Chief of Police Mike Hamel.

"Both the Irvine Police and the men and women of the Irvine Police Department, denounce--in the strongest terms--this type of hateful act," Hamel said. "We are committed to our mission, working in partnership with the community to preserve the peace."

Police are asking anyone with information to call (949) 724- 7200.

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