Law Enforcement Officials and Community Leaders Offer Reward

February 2, 2010 - The greater Sacramento area has experienced a recent uptick in hate crime incidents, and two in particular have authorities and community leaders asking for the public’s help in solving the crimes. The first incident occurred on November 10, 2009, at Congregation Beth Shalom, 4746 El Camino Avenue, Carmichael, California. Congregation Beth Shalom, a Jewish synagogue, was the target of racist graffiti, a hate message, and an attempt to burn a sign bearing the congregation’s name.

Video footage obtained from outside the synagogue captured the image of an individual dressed in all black spray painting the words “Kristallnact still lives” (sic).This message pertains to the November 1938 attacks against Jews by Nazis in Germany and Austria.

A swastika and SS symbols were painted on the building and there was also an attempt to burn the sign in front of the synagogue as evidenced by the burnt bushes below the sign.

The perpetrator wore a black hooded sweat shirt to obscure his/her face from the camera and can be seen making an obscene gesture to the camera before departing the scene.

The second incident occurred on January 1, 2010, at Kenesset Israel Torah Center, 1165 Morse Avenue, Sacramento, California, where someone spray painted satanic messages on the exterior walls of the center and racial epithets and two swastikas on the SMUD power box located at the edge of the property.

The Sacramento FBI is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for these crimes.Representatives from the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region have also offered a reward, up to $1500, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for these two acts.

Anyone with information regarding these two incidents is urged to contact the Sacramento FBI at 916-481-9110.