Minneapolis police are investigating after a prominent Jewish synagogue was defaced by vandals overnight.
South Minneapolis' Temple Israel Senior Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman calls the attack deeply painful, saying it was not a political statement, but a clear act of hate.
"It is a reality here, but there's also the underbelly of every city, of every state, and that is one of blaming and hurt and violence," says Rabbi Zimmerman. "And this is what we have to really fight against."
Zimmerman says messages scrawled on the building included code words used by Hamas in the October 7 terror attack on Israel two years ago, as well as red triangles, which she calls "shorthand" for violence against Jews and Israelis.
"The red triangle references, imagery circulated by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in videos of attacks on Israeli soldiers, and these symbols have become shorthand for violence against Jews and Israelis," Zimmerman explains.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also shared the images on social media, and called the attacks cowardly.
"This morning, Temple Israel woke up to anti-Semitic threats — a reminder that hate still tries to find a foothold," Frey said. "It won’t find one here. Minneapolis stands with our Jewish neighbors. Hiding behind hate to spread fear aganst any religion is cowardly and unacceptable in our city."
Minneapolis police are investigating. There have been no arrests.