Police investigate swastika graffiti on Jewish synagogue

SWASTIKAS have been daubed on a Maroubra synagogue in an attack condemned as more painful than ‘just graffiti’ by Jewish community leaders.

SWASTIKAS - a symbol of the Nazi Party and their ethos of hate and horror – have been painted on a synagogue and bus stops in Maroubra, shocking the community.

Police are investigating the vandalism described as an “assault against the Jewish people” by Maroubra synagogue’s Rabbi Yossi Friedman.

“This symbol is especially hurtful as my grandparents were survivors of the holocaust as well as many of the original members who built the synagogue,” he said.

When the chief executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Vic Alhadeff, heard about the crime he said there was no place for such behaviour in our society.

“Nazi swastikas are not just graffiti,” he said.

“They are the ultimate symbol of racial hatred and represent mass murder and genocide. The cowards who engaged in this act of bigotry are to be thoroughly condemned.”

Rabbi Friedman removes the graffiti. Picture: Facebook

Swastika graffiti at an Anzac Pde bus stop. Picture: Facebook

About five swastika symbols were drawn on the Anzac Pde synagogue, the wall of the stairs on the nearby footbridge and two bus stops.

Police are reviewing CCTV vision to find those responsible, and the matter was also reported to the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.

Rabbi Friedman was informed about the graffiti on Sunday April 3, and was able to remove it by Wednesday.

“What would drive a person to such a deplorable action? Why such hatred?” He wrote in a Facebook post.

“A synagogue is a symbol of peace. So why would anyone want to deface it?”

“Racial hatred has no place in our society and is a direct betrayal of our country’s core values.”

He said the community would not be cowed by the graffiti.

“While disrespectful, it is business as usual for our synagogue,” he said.

“We will not let this incident disrupt our ongoing operations.”

Graffiti at a Maroubra bus stop on Anzac Pde. Picture: Facebook

Randwick mayor Noel D’Souza’s “heart sank” when he saw the “distressing” photos of the graffiti.

“How I had hoped we were immune to such despicable acts of bigotry in Sydney. Such ugliness,” he said.

The council wrote a letter of support to Rabbi Friedman and his congregation and had the markings removed from the public bus stops.

Rabbi Friedman’s only message to the vandal was one of pity.

“Your hatred is self destructive, it will only consume you. So for your own sake, let it go,” he said.