Anti-Semitic graffiti found on West Rogers Park garages, synagogue

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Police are investigating hate messages that turned up on garage doors in West Rogers Park.

Over the weekend, anti-Semitic slurs and profanity were found spray painted on a garage in the 2800-block of W. Estes - one of 30 similar incidents reported over the last week.

Larry Baer is one of several West Rogers Park residents shocked to find anti-Semitic graffiti scrawled on their garages in the far Northwest Side neighborhood.

"This is not the first time this has happened to us, but it's really disheartening to wake up in the morning and see this damage," Baer said.

The profanity-laced hate messages were spray painted on garages in a largely Jewish area of West Rogers Park less than a week after the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Officers were called Sunday afternoon after an area resident reported seeing the graffiti in the alley around 4 p.m.

After that, other similar incidents were reported in the 5700-block and 5800-block of N. Talman, as well as at a neighborhood storefront synagogue located in the 2900-block of West Touhy, where Leah Fouhal's husband worships.

"There were remarks about, like, not positive remarks about Jews, there was a Jewish symbol crossed out. So my husband called the police," Fouhal said.

The vandalism is being condemned by the Jewish community. Amy Stoken with the American Jewish Committee calls the crime disturbing and says it indicates a rise in anti-Semitism seen around the world.

"It raises a lot of concerns, No. 1 for the safety and security of the Jewish community, so it's extra scary to us to see this happening right in our backyard," Stoken said.

A spokesperson for the 50th Ward says 30 garages were vandalized and that the Chicago Police Department's Hate Crimes Unit has been notified.

Detectives continued to investigate on Monday afternoon. Sources say it appears only one person is responsible for the vandalism. No arrests have been made.