CHICAGO, Ill. (WBBM) -- Vandals have left their mark on a north side synagogue, just before the start of Passover, which begins tomorrow night.
Chicago police say they are investigating the incident as a hate crime. It was reported just before 9:00 last night at Congregation Ner Tamid at California and Rosemont.
Police say an exterior door was spray painted with derogatory language.
According to Illinois State senator Ira Silverstein, the door had the words "Free Palestine" and other words written in Arabic. Silverstein says it did not appear that anything else was damaged.
Silverstein says he was notified by constituents this morning who were obviously upset.
Silverstein says it's especially concerning, since this is a diverse neighborhood where everyone seems to get along.
Silverstein and others say they believe this was a political statement, not just a child's prank.
Michael Kotzin, the executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, says the words written, and the fact that some were in Arabic, lead him to believe this is part of a new trend of anti-semitism.
Chicago police are looking into the matter and have no one in custody at this point.
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