Oct. 8, 2025

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC) condemns in the strongest possible terms the antisemitic graffiti spray-painted on Temple Israel in Minneapolis on October 7, the second anniversary of Hamas’s terror attack on Israel.

For months, we have warned that violent slogans such as “Glory to the Resistance,” “Globalize the Intifada,” and “Victory to Al Aqsa Flood” risk escalating beyond words. The attack on Temple Israel marks a dangerous and deeply troubling new and venomous development.

Defacing the synagogue’s education wing, vandals spray-painted threats including “Watch out Zionists,” “F** Zionism,”* and “Al-Aqsa Flood” — Hamas’s code name for the October 7 attacks. They also left 14 inverted red triangles, a symbol which, according to the American Jewish Committee, is “an anti-Israel symbol often weaponized under the guise of ‘Palestinian Resistance’ to identify, harass, and target Israelis and Jews, glorify Hamas’ terror, and call for increased violence against the Jewish people.”

This targeted graffiti is harrowing, imitative of the mass terrorism of October 7, and a direct attempt to intimidate Minnesota’s Jewish community. Clearly, those who defaced Temple Israel believe terrorism against Jews is worthy of celebration — and they brought that message to the doors of an iconic synagogue in the heart of Minneapolis.

We also want to amplify the wisdom of our partner and dear colleague, Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, Temple Israel’s senior rabbi, who rightly stated:

“As we mourn the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks, this ugly act of antisemitism is particularly painful. This vandalism does not solve any problem and blaming American Jews in Minnesota for what’s happening globally is hate speech, it’s antisemitism. It’s nothing different than that.”

The JCRC continues to demand that political leaders do their part to use language that unites rather than incites. We were outraged that too many politicians chose October 7th — of all days — to spread toxic blood libel about Israel’s war against Hamas. Such reckless statements legitimize antisemitic conspiracy theories, deepen divisions, and embolden those who wish to bring violence and intimidation to our community.

We call on all civic leaders, interfaith partners, and Minnesotans to unequivocally reject antisemitism in all its forms.

Finally, the JCRC is deeply grateful to law enforcement for their swift response to this incident and to the many political and community leaders who have expressed solidarity with Temple Israel and the broader Minnesota Jewish community.