Philadelphia Jewish history museum vandalized for second week in a row
A Jewish history museum in Philadelphia, the Weitzman National Museum of American jewish History, was vandalized for the second consecutive week. An unknown individual spray-painted red paint on the museumS exterior wall, including around the Israeli flag above the entrance. The incidents occurred within two weeks, each time involving spray-painting a banner stating “The Weitzman stands with Israel.” The museum, located near significant American historical landmarks on Independence Mall, aims to connect Jews to their heritage and educate the public about the American Jewish experience.
The museum spokesperson said they planned to update the signage with a message supporting hostages soon, and the vandalism has prompted them to expedite this update. The museum’s CEO, Dan Tadmor, condemned the vandalism, highlighting the rising number of antisemitic attacks nationwide. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also condemned the attack, emphasizing the museum’s location near symbols of democracy and liberty and rejecting hate-based expressions. The vandalism has caused sadness and outrage within the Philadelphia Jewish community.
Philadelphia Jewish history museum vandalized for second week in a row
A Jewish history museum in Philadelphia was vandalized this week, as an unknown person spray-painted the museum’s exterior wall with red paint.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Israeli flag displayed on the wall above the entrance of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History was spray-painted around 4:45 a.m. on Monday. It was the second such act of vandalism at the museum in two weeks. A representative from the museum said that it had also been vandalized a week ago, according to CBS Philadelphia. In both incidents, the unknown person spray-painted a banner that read “The Weitzman stands with Israel” with red paint, according to reports.
The museum is located on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, less than a tenth of a mile from Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Constitution Center. According to its website, the museum’s purpose is to “connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire.” It does this by presenting “educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America.”
A museum spokesperson commented on the vandalism, saying the museum planned to update the area that was damaged before the incidents.
“We had been planning to refresh the faade signage with ‘Bring Them Home Now’ hostage messaging as we approach the incomprehensible two-year anniversary of their inhumane captivity,” said the spokesperson. “In light of the timing of the vandalism, we are working to install that signage sooner rather than replacing the flag for only a short time. As such, there may be a gap in signage for a few days.”
The CEO of the museum, Dan Tadmor, released a statement on Aug. 26, condemning the act of vandalism, and cited the thousands of reported antisemitic attacks in the country in recent years.
“Appallingly, vandalizing Jewish institutions has become a daily occurrence in America,” said Tadmor. “The ADL reported over 9,000 cases of antisemitism just this past year. Unfortunately, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History has become part of that statistic.”
The Washington Examiner emailed the museum for comment about the vandalism, but did not receive a response.
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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) also condemned the attack, citing the museum’s proximity to “a symbol of liberty.”
“The Weitzman Museum is literally steps away from the birthplace of democracy and a symbol of liberty and justice for all,” said Shapiro. “Antisemitic vandalism has no place there — or anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – and must be universally condemned. Expressing views through acts of hate doesn’t further a cause.”
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