The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today strongly condemned the anti-Semitic graffiti and vandalism discovered on and around a Long Island synagogue.

Over the weekend, vandals spray-painted anti-Jewish slogans on the Dix Hills Jewish Center, and spray-painted the word “JEWS” on a stop sign near the synagogue.

“We are extremely troubled by yet another malicious attack on a Jewish place of worship in our area,” said Joel J. Levy, ADL New York Regional Director.  “After seeing a significant increase in anti-Semitic attacks in New York in 2007, we continue to be concerned by their regular occurrence in our state, and condemn all such incidents in the strongest terms.

“We applaud Suffolk County law enforcement for addressing this incident with the seriousness and speed we have come to expect from them, and hope that the perpetrators of this anti-Semitic crime will be brought to justice.”

ADL regularly assists law enforcement and communities in response to hate crimes, and has been in contact with the Suffolk County Police Department regarding the incident.  The League has also reached out to the Dix Hills synagogue to offer its resources and expertise.

This latest incident comes on the heels of a synagogue vandalism in Staten Island, where two spray-painted swastikas were discovered.  There is no indication that the two incidents are connected.

“We will not tolerate religious hatred and there will be an all-out effort to arrest and prosecute those responsible,” County Executive Steve Levy said.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives in the Hate Crime Unit at 631-852-6323 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

(Moshe Altusky – YWN NYC / HPO-ATV008)