Olympia police are investigating a hate crime after vandals knocked over a Jewish menorah and then desecrated it.
The vandalism happened overnight Monday outside the home and office of Rabbi Cheski Edelman.
“My wife was driving out of the driveway in the morning and she called me to let me know that the menorah was knocked down,” said Edelman. “As soon as I saw it, I knew there was no way that it somehow fell over because it’s a very, very heavy menorah. And as I lifted it up, I noticed that it was spray-painted, ‘die Jew,’ which, of course, did not make me feel very good.”
Edelman said the incident left his wife feeling scared.
Reiko Callner, the former Olympia prosecutor who helped write the city’s hate crime ordinance and helped form a local anti-hate organization, contacted Edelman and his family.
“We are very much driven and compelled to come and try to make amends and show that unity and love is much stronger than these often mindless and cowardly acts,” said Callner.
The rabbi, who lost many family members in the Holocaust during World War II, is trying to put the best face on the incident.
“It was probably just a bunch of kids trying to have fun. I’m trying not to take it too seriously,” said Callner.
Edelman thinks the vandalism happened between 11 p.m. Monday and 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.
He said he doesn’t believe the act reflects most of his neighbors in Olympia.
not good
Thats so creepy but again, we are in golus and thats what we need to fight. Anti Semites. They probably were drunk and they probably are gonna die now. L