• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Vigil Set at Vandalized Synagogue

Posted on: Sunday, 19 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By Ray Quintanilla, Chicago Tribune

Feb. 19--Community leaders in the Uptown neighborhood are planning a rally and prayer vigil for Sunday to promote religious tolerance after a synagogue was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti last week.

"What happened here is not just about an attack on this synagogue," said Rabbi Philip Lefkowitz, leader of the Agudas Achim North Shore Congregation, 5029 N. Kenmore Ave, the site of the 2 p.m. rally. "This gathering is to promote healing and understanding in this diverse neighborhood of Uptown and all across the city."

The Chicago Human Relations Commission, whose chairman called the graffiti a "disgusting and cowardly act of hate," is joining efforts to generate a large turnout at the synagogue.

"The cowards who [perpetrated] this act must know that they have not only harmed the synagogue and its congregation but also a much larger community," said Clarence Wood, commission chairman.

Lefkowitz said one or more persons came onto the synagogue's grounds Sunday night or early Monday. Once there, someone sprayed the building's exterior with about a dozen swastikas, as well as offensive phrases.

Authorities are investigating.

The congregation was founded nearly 120 years ago in the Maxwell Street neighborhood. The present synagogue building was erected 88 years ago to serve the Uptown and Edgewater communities. In those days, the synagogue's leaders said, the area had a large Jewish population.

Lefkowitz said Sunday's rally is open to people from all faiths. The gathering will conclude with the removal of the offensive phrases and symbols.

"We are trying very hard to make a cohesive and supportive community for everyone," said Lefkowitz, standing in front of a swastika painted on the synagogue's windows. "This was an attack on Uptown. It was an attack of all of us."

Mark Miller, an Uptown resident who was walking past the synagogue on Friday, said he heard about the vandalism on Tuesday, a day after it happened. Those who live in the 5000 block of North Kenmore Avenue were shocked.

"I can't ever remember an attack on that synagogue," said Miller, 56. "Everyone knows this neighborhood is in flux. The low-income people are being pushed out, and the higher income people are moving in. That can cause friction in a neighborhood."

rquintanilla@tribune.com

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, Chicago Tribune

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

NASDAQ-NMS:EDGW,

Source: Chicago Tribune

More News in this Category