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San Diego police investigate defacing of synagogue, church

Caleb Lunetta, The San Diego Union-Tribune on

Published in Religious News

SAN DIEGO — A Jewish synagogue in Bankers Hill was defaced similarly to that of a nearby Christian church over the weekend, prompting an investigation from San Diego police, officials said.

Parishioners at Ohr Shalom Synagogue were informed Sunday that their building had been spraypainted with the words “No Gods” and “Free Gaza,” the synagogue’s executive director, Gillian Argoff-Treseder, said Tuesday.

“Obviously, we’re all disappointed, hurt, appalled and saddened that people feel the need to spread hate, and in an antisemitic fashion, on our building,” Argoff-Treseder said. “But we look at this as an opportunity … to repair the world and hopefully bring together more good than hate.”

The synagogue has since covered the words temporarily with paper until they can find a paint to match the previous coat, Argoff-Treseder said.

The synagogue was one of two houses of worship in the Bankers Hill area that were vandalized with similar phrases and black spray paint over the weekend.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral was also damaged with black paint that covered areas of the building’s stucco with profanity and crosses.

 

San Diego Police Department officials confirmed that they are investigating both incidents.

“There’s no word on who it is, but we’re still early in the investigation,” Lt. Travis Easter, a spokesperson for the department, said. “If anybody sees anything or they know anything, contact us.”

Investigators asked anyone with information about the incident to call the San Diego Police Department at 619‑531‑2000 or Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.

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©2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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