Four Synagogues Desocrated; Swastikas, Hammer-and-sickle Emblems Painted on Walls

Swastikas and hammer-and-sickle emblems were painted on the walls of four synagogues and another synagogue was stoned over the weekend here, it was learned today. The foot-high desecrations were painted on with black enamel paint and the apparent use of stencils. The daubings-effected at night in a respectable, low-crime neighborhood-victimized Tifereth Israel, a Conservative temple, and Ohev Shalom, Beth Shalom and Agudath Achim, all Orthodox. Summit Hill Congregation, and Orthodox synagogue, was stoned during Passover service by assailants who fled. Rabbi A. Nathan Abramowitz of Tifereth Israel, former chairman of the Washington Board of Rabbis, said that while a similar incident at his shul five years ago was found to have been committed by youngsters, this time “It looks like a professional job.”

The worst-marred building was Beth Shalom, suffering its first vandalism in its 13-year existence. All six of its doors were smeared with paint. Ironically, the building has floodlights that are on at night. Observers said the stoning of Summit Hill was apparently not connected with the smearings at the other four synagogues. Although the neighborhood, in upper northwest Washington, has had its population turn in recent years from predominantly Jewish to significantly black, an official of one of the vandalized synagogues said Jewish-black relations in the area were friendly. Another official noted that the American Nazi Party held a rally here last Saturday in Lafayette Park and that its 11 participants reportedly included four men who were allegedly beaten by Jewish Defense League members outside the White House two weeks ago during a rally for Soviet Jews. He speculated that the neo-Nazis might have vandalized the synagogue to avenge the JDL action.