BOCA RATON, Fla. – Police in Boca Raton want to know who spray painted a wall outside an apartment complex Friday.
Rabbi Barry Silver doesn’t like what he sees. He calls the graffiti anti-Semitic.
“There are still these feelings out there,” he says the graffiti proves.
The graffiti includes a Star of David, a plus sign, a heart, another plus sign, a swastika, an equal sign followed by several symbols police haven’t identified. One appears similar to a Freemason symbol.
“I have absolutely no doubt it’s a hate crime, I’m not sure why the police are having a difficult time figuring that one out,” Silver says.
A police spokesperson says the department’s graffiti expert is looking at the case.
“We take this crime seriously and are investigating it thoroughly. The symbols depicted in the graffiti could be gang related or could be anti-Semitic, we haven’t ruled anything out at this point. The investigation is on-going,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement.
Anthony Perrini lives in the Gables Town Place complex where the graffiti was painted.
“It’s not pleasant to come out and see that kind of hateful graffiti written on the wall because a swastika is not a happy symbol,” he points out.
His neighbor, Jillian Berson, who is Jewish, agrees.
“It shouldn’t be brushed off, it shouldn’t be taken as lightly as oh some kids. It’s a big deal,” she says.
She adds the timing of the graffiti is suspicious. The Jewish new year celebration of Rosh Hashanah ends Tuesday. Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish faith, begins September 22.
The rabbi says this can be a teaching moment. He says all religions need to better understand one another.
“We do need to address it and take it seriously because you can’t just ignore this type of thing,” Silver points out.
Silver is hosting an interfaith dialogue at his congregation, L’Dor Va-Dor, on Yom Kippur. The event is open to everyone. It will take place at 1:30pm on September 23 at Santaluces High School.
The graffiti also appears to include the words “sorry” and “Lady Q.”
