A Los Angeles synagogue was defaced for the third time in recent months when its front door was damaged and a mezuzah was stripped from its frame on Friday, Kahal Ahavas Yisroel vice president Rivky Netkin told The Jerusalem Post.
Netkin suspected that the vandal had damaged the door when attempting to break in, and when he failed turned his attention to the mezuzah.
The vandal tore the mezuzah from the door frame, and in security footage could be seen attempting to snap it before throwing it at the ground.
Previous vandalism incidents
The Kahal Ahavas Yisroel synagogue had been damaged on July 25 when at least two vandals broke two front windows. Security footage showed one of the suspects filming the act and laughing as they fled the scene.
The July 25 incident had come just a few days after the house of worship had finished repairs to a window after it had been broken in another act of vandalism on May 23.
After the initial incident, the congregation hadn’t been certain if the attack had been motivated by anti-Jewish animus, but fresh attacks raised suspicions of antisemitic motives.