August 2, 2024 | 27 Tammuz 5784 S
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Candlelighting 8:15 p.m. | Havdalah 9:17 p.m. | Vol. 67, No. 31 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
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‘Supporters of Hamas’: Politicians Pittsburgh Jewish community react to targeted with antisemitic graffiti Netanyahu’s address to Congress
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Chabad of Squirrel Hill and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh were vandalized on July 29 Courtesy photo
A preview of Maccabi 2025 LOCAL
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Aug. 4 event in memory of fallen IDF soldier BOOKS
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“Saying No To Hate” Lenda nus dolorum re pro mi, cuptati ntibus.
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New book offers insights and strategies Page 15
By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
T
he Pittsburgh Jewish community awoke on July 29 to find it had again been targeted with antisemitism. Graffiti declaring “Jews 4 Palestine” and an inverted red triangle were painted on the front of Chabad of Squirrel Hills’ building around 1:40 a.m. The inverted red triangle has been used by Hamas to target Israeli military sites. The symbol is also used “to represent Hamas itself and glorify its use of violence,” according to the Anti-Defamation League. At the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, the words “Funds genocide ♥ Jews, Hate Zionist” were painted on a sign outside the building. Additionally, “We Stand with Israel” signs were defaced on private property in Squirrel Hill. At an afternoon news conference, the Federation’s Director of Community Security Shawn Brokos said the graffiti “cannot be nuanced.” “What we saw today,” she said, “was a direct targeting of our Jewish community by people who, through the graffiti and the messages, are supporters of Hamas. There is no other way to interpret the messaging.” Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said the targeting of houses of worship and antisemitic
hate have no place in the country or world. “When we talk about religious institutions where people go to pray, they should be safe, and they should be protected,” he said. “We shouldn’t have any defacing of these properties. What happened at 1:45 in the morning cannot be tolerated.” A timeline connecting the two events has not yet been established, Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto said, but he noted that a black sedan was captured on video at both sites. “The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police stands committed and capable of holding those accountable for this act,” he said. The city’s police force is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, Scirotto said. Chabad of Squirrel Hill Rabbi Yisroel Altein said that it is important to be clear on what’s right and wrong, what’s moral and immoral. “This is antisemitism, period,” Altein said. The Pittsburgh Jewish community, which continues to bear the scars of the Oct. 27, 2018, Pittsburgh synagogue shooting as well as Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack, continues to be concerned with the rise in antisemitism,
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Photo by Avi Ohayon / Government Press Office of Israel, via Wikimedia Commons
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Please see Graffiti, page 10
Back to School
By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
Special Section coming Aug. 9
hen Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress on July 24, a Pennsylvania political hopeful was in the gallery witnessing the historic speech. Republican James Hayes, challenging incumbent Summer Lee in the commonwealth’s 12th District, said when he heard that Lee might skip the prime minister’s address, he was “embarrassed.” “I reached out to Congressman GT Thompson, who I met the week before at the [Republican] convention, and he was gracious enough to extend an invitation, and I was able to participate through him,” Hayes said. And while Hayes was ashamed of Lee’s Please see Netanyahu, page 10 Tom Wang/Adobe Stock