The Jewish Museum's Israeli flag in Philadelphia was defaced with red paint

Maggie Prosser, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Aug 22, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PHILADELPHIA — An Israeli flag on the west-facing wall of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History was vandalized with red paint early Monday morning, officials said.

The museum on the corner of South Independence Mall East and Market Street was defaced about 4:45 a.m. Monday, according to a Philadelphia Police spokesperson. The paint was splattered across the flag and a banner that reads, "The Weitzman Stands with Israel."

The investigation is ongoing, the police spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the museum said in an email Thursday that cleanup was underway. On Thursday afternoon, a lone window washer was power-washing and scrubbing streaks of paint off the building. But a cloudy red stain remained.

The museum declined to comment further. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia declined to comment on the vandalism.

Nationwide last year, there were more than 9,300 incidents — including 465 in Pennsylvania — of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and assault, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

The prominent Jewish advocacy group reported that a majority of those incidents were fueled by anti-Zionist and anti-Israel sentiments.