OAK PARK, Mich. – Police in Oak Park have made an arrest after Congregation Beth Shalom was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti this week, prompting renewed conversations about security at places of worship.
A congregant arriving Wednesday morning found the synagogue’s front entrance marked with graffiti, including a swastika, said Rabbi Robert Gamer. Security video showed a person walking up to the entrance Tuesday afternoon and drawing on the building with a marker, police said.
“It was found by somebody that was coming to the building, some graffiti and a swastika underneath it,” said Gamer.
Gamer said the incident has prompted the congregation to consider additional security measures, including more cameras.
“For Jewish institutions, I guess we should be working under the mentality that it’s not if something’s going to happen at one of our facilities, it’s when,” Gamer said.
The vandalism comes days after two 19-year-olds were arrested in Sterling Heights for spray-painting antisemitic messages in the area.
Congregation Beth Shalom already has security guards present during Saturday morning services and religious school meetings, Gamer said, but added that increased threats are forcing difficult budget decisions.
Gamer said the synagogue experienced an incident over a year ago where someone drove up to its executive director and Rabbi Emeritus, shouting antisemitic language.
“Religious institutions don’t want to have to budget for armed security guards and cameras covering every inch of our facility; we don’t want to do that, but it is getting to the point now as institutions in the larger Jewish community are recognizing that these are necessities,” he said.
Oak Park police arrested a suspect Thursday morning, saying the person was known to frequent the area. Jason Ginopolis, the deputy director of the Oak Park Department of Public Safety, said the department has increased patrols and attention around houses of worship.
“It’s very serious, you know, you’re desecrating a place of worship, you’re attempting to intimidate people, it’s something we take very serious,” Ginopolis said.
“We cannot let hatred or any type of these activities stop us, and we have to persevere through them,” Gamer said.
The Oak Park Department of Public Safety has submitted charges to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for review.