Phoenix-area family’s menorah vandalized, turned into swastika during Hanukkah
Dec 30, 2016, 1:15 PM | Updated: 4:01 pm
PHOENIX — A family in Chandler, Arizona said a menorah in their front yard was destroyed and disfigured into a swastika on the sixth night of Hanukkah, just days after a Sun City synagogue reported a similar incident.
Naomi and Seth Ellis, a Jewish couple living in Chandler with their three sons, said they woke up early on the seventh morning of Hanukkah to their 7-foot-tall homemade menorah vandalized into a giant swastika, according to The Washington Post.
(Facebook Photo)
The menorah, made of PVC pipe, was placed in the front yard of their home to celebrate the Jewish holiday, which began at sunset on Christmas Eve and ends at sunset on New Year’s Day. The vandals even took some of the pieces of the menorah entirely.
“I’m not sure I quite understand it myself, nor have I ever understood racism or prejudice in any form,” Naomi wrote in a Facebook post.
“How can people can be filled with so much hate and violence? To think that someone would make such an effort to hurt and vandalize a family, is downright sickening.”
Chandler Police reported the incident as disorderly conduct and have not made any arrests. Police said the investigation is ongoing and the suspect or suspects could be charged with first-degree trespassing, a class 6 felony.
A similar incident was reported by a Sun City synagogue on the first day of Hanukkah.
Temple Beth Shalom and Jewish Community Center of the Northwest Valley reported damage done to several fixtures at the synagogue, including a menorah, a Holocaust memorial and a basketball hoop.
Officials with the synagogue said they found tire marks near their outdoor menorah, as if someone tried to ram into it with their car, and two of the menorah’s arms were twisted downward. There have been no suspect or suspects arrested in the incident.
