Hate Crime Strikes Pasadena Jewish Community

A Jewish temple in Pasadena, California, has once again fallen victim to an act of hate. This time, it's not a fire causing the damage, but cruel words spray-painted on its walls. The temple, which was destroyed in last year's Eaton Fire, is still in ruins. Someone took advantage of this and wrote hateful messages on what's left of the outer wall.

Hateful Messages

The messages included an offensive word combined with "Zionism" and "RIP Renee." The leader of the temple, Joshua Ratner, thinks the vandal might be referring to Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by an ICE agent in Minnesota. But Ratner is quick to point out that there's no connection between the Jewish community and what happened to Renee.

"This kind of hate crime is not just an attack on the temple. It's an attack on the entire Jewish community. We're still trying to recover from the fire. Now, we have to deal with this too."

Law Enforcement Response

The LA County Sheriff's Department is treating this as a hate crime. They've offered a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to the suspect's arrest. The county board has also condemned the act, calling it "despicable."

Community Impact

Less than a week ago, the temple's congregation came together to remember the temple that was lost in the fire. About 30 members of the congregation lost their homes in the fire. Now, they're dealing with this new act of hate.

A Call for Understanding

Ratner said he would like to talk to the person who did this. He wants to explain the harm that their actions have caused.

"We need to build bridges, not tear each other down. If all we do is attack one another, we'll never move forward."