Vandal hits West Ashley synagogue

Vulgar slurs were painted on a wall of a local synagogue over Labor Day weekend.

Charleston police received a call Sept. 4 to investigate the vandalism at Conservative Synagogue Emanu-El in West Ashley. The graffiti included obscenities against the police and FBI, according to the incident report. The vandalism occurred sometime between 2 p.m. Sept. 1 and 8:30 a.m. Sept. 4, according to the report.

The vandalism upset the congregation, but they took some comfort in the fact that it didn’t appear to be directed against them, according to a staff member.

“It seems like it’s very random,” said Office Administrator Maya Hirsch Kupchik, who reported the crime to the police. “The content doesn’t seem to be related to the Jewish faith. It doesn’t mean it’s not ugly and horrible, but it doesn’t seem like a hate crime.”

The stucco on the rear wall will have to be pressure washed and the whole wall primed and repainted. It will cost about $600, Kupchik said.

“It’s very disturbing,” Kupchik said. “We were very upset to see it. Even if it’s not a hate crime, this is still a place of worship.”

Police don’t suspect any connection with the swastikas that were painted outside a Jewish woman’s West Ashley apartment in July, police spokesman Charles Francis said.

Anyone with information on either crime is asked to call Charleston police at 577-7434.

Reach Dave Munday at 937-5553 or twitter.com/dmunday.