Two synagogues vandalized on same day in Sarasota, Florida
Sheriff’s office says security footage appears to show same man on grounds of Temple Emanu-El, Temple Sinai later that morning
JTA — Two Reform synagogues in Sarasota, Florida, were vandalized with swastikas and other unspecified hateful messages.
The incidents at Temple Sinai and Temple Emanu-El reportedly took place early on Wednesday morning, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.
The Temple Sinai campus was extensively vandalized, including many walls made of porous Jerusalem stone, making the removal of the messages difficult. It is the second time that Temple Emanu-El has been attacked in the last four months. In April, swastikas were spray-painted on the doors of the synagogue.
The Sarasota Sheriff’s office told the newspaper that a man was seen on surveillance video on the grounds of Temple Emanu-El at around 2 a.m. Video shows the same man on the grounds of Temple Sinai later on the same morning.
PLEASE RT: Help us identify the suspect who spray-painting swastikas on two Jewish temples overnight in Sarasota. He was seen wearing a blue cap, dark shirt, jeans with red bandana covering his face. Have info? Call detectives at 941.861.4900. https://t.co/bgAtpcPFX2
— SarasotaSheriff (@SarasotaSheriff) July 15, 2020
The two temples issued a joint letter on Wednesday to their memberships to inform them of the vandalism.
“We will be ever vigilant in looking after the safety and security of our members and our children. But we will not allow hate to distract us from the holy work that defines our temple missions,” the letter said.
The Times of Israel Community.