The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today strongly condemned an incident of anti-Semitic graffiti on a Hackensack synagogue, which is the second such episode in Bergen County in the past two weeks.

“We are deeply troubled by a repeat attack on a Jewish place of worship in Bergen County,” said Etzion Neuer, ADL Director of Community Service & Policy in the New York Regional Office. “At a time when Jews are celebrating the joyous festival of Hanukkah, they instead find themselves cleaning symbols of hatred off their place of worship. While graffiti swastikas are often the work of malicious juveniles, the appearance of white supremacist symbols strongly suggests an extremist connection.”

Early this morning, on the first day of Hanukkah, anti-Jewish slogans were spray-painted on Temple Beth El that included swastikas, the phrase ‘Jews Did 9/11,’ and the coded term ‘14/88,’ which is used by white supremacists.

On December 10, similar graffiti were found on a synagogue in nearby Maywood.

ADL has been in contact and is working closely with local law enforcement officials and the Jewish community in response to the incident.

(YWN Desk – NYC)