$20,000 reward in case of Pasadena Jewish Temple mural defaced with antisemitic graffiti

Los Angeles County supervisors on Tuesday approved a $20,000 reward offer for information leading to the person or people responsible for vandalizing a mural at the site of the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center that burned in last year’s Eaton Fire.

The mural on the 1400 block of North Altadena Drive was vandalized with swastikas and other antisemitic graffiti sometime on July 24, according to the county sheriff’s department.

The mural, depicting an orange poppy as a symbol of hope, was produced by artist Miriam Hellmann, the Art Over Hate Collective, the Sparks of Kindness Youth Fund and religious school students, volunteers and community members. It was created earlier this year in response to an act of vandalism in which antisemitic graffiti was painted on a wall of the fire-damaged center.

“An attack motivated by hate against one community is an attack against us all,” LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement after introducing her reward motion last week. “The antisemitic vandalism at the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center has no place in Los Angeles County. This congregation has already endured the devastation of the Eaton Fire and is working to rebuild. They should not have to face hateful acts intended to intimidate them. Those responsible must be held fully accountable.”

She said her reward will apply to information leading to convictions in either or both of the acts of vandalism at the center.

Following the vandalism, officials at the center wrote on social media that the mural is a “symbol of hope, resilience, and solidarity — not just for PJTC, but for the entire Altadena community.”

“Today, we are deeply saddened and outraged by this act, but we refuse to let it define our community,” the congregation said. “We are working closely with law enforcement and our security partners as the incident is investigated and as we determine the next steps to restore the mural.”

The temple posted another message thanking the community for its support.

“We simply want to say thank you to everyone who reached out with messages of care, solidarity, and support since antisemitic graffiti was discovered on our mural on Friday. Your care and kindness reminded us that we are not facing this alone,” the temple posted on social media.

“… We’re also deeply grateful to local officials for standing with us, and the local and national media who helped shine a light on what happened. Sharing these stories matters. It raises awareness, confronts antisemitism, and reminds our wider community that hate has no place here.”

The temple hosted a solidarity gathering Thursday at its former Altadena site, where about 140 congregants, civic leaders, faith leaders and community members denounced the vandalism and expressed support for the congregation.

The mural has since been restored.

Anyone with information about the vandalism was asked to contact the sheriff’s Altadena station at 626-798-1131, or the department’s hate crime task force at 562-946-7893. Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or lacrimestoppers.org.