BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Pittsburgh has once again become the target of antisemites after two Jewish community centers in the Steel City were vandalized with red spray paint early Monday – and Pennsylvania leaders are putting their foot down.
“Jews 4 Palestine” was emblazoned on the building of the Chabad of Squirrel Hill, a synagogue in the wealthy neighborhood it’s named for.
Not four miles west of there, another antisemitic message was stained in spray paint at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, situated along the Monongahela River.
The graffiti graced a sign bearing the org’s name, with an arrow pointing down to a message that read: “funds genocide.”
Beneath that charming message was the kicker: “Love Jews, hate Zionists.”
Politicians from both parties were quick to call out the latest instance of public antisemitism in Pittsburgh’s thriving Jewish community, where a gunman killed 11 people and injured several more at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018.
Two Democrat House members from the area, Reps. Chris Deluzio and Summer Lee, condemned the incidents on X.
“These sanctuaries should be a refuge for those looking for community and spiritual healing. They must be respected and protected,” the progressive Lee tweeted, without explicitly mentioning Jews or antisemitism.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) decried the use of “Hamas symbolism” in the graffiti — apparently a reference to the vandals’ distinction between Jews and “Zionists.”
“Vandalism is never acceptable, and the use of Hamas symbolism must be condemned in the strongest terms,” Casey tweeted Monday.
Casey’s opponent, GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick, lives in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood and jumped at the chance to blame Democrats for the vandalism on X.
“Horrified to see more vulgar antisemitism near my home,” McCormick wrote.
“PA’s Jewish communities deserve safety and respect. But Bob Casey and Kamala Harris have failed them by giving a free pass to this movement every time disgusting and dangerous actions like this happen,” he added.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, delivered the most forceful statement against the vandalism by invoking memories of the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre.
“The Squirrel Hill community witnessed the deadliest act of antisemitism in our nation’s history at Tree of Life Synagogue. They should not need to wake up to antisemitic graffiti in their neighborhood,” Shapiro tweeted Monday.
“Vandalism of any type of a house of worship has no home in our Commonwealth — and we must all continue to call it out and speak with moral clarity,” the governor added.
Shapiro has been hitting the campaign trail hard for Kamala Harris lately.
The popular Democrat governor is on the shortlist of candidates under consideration for the VP spot on Harris’ campaign, which is currently in the veep-vetting process.
However, the gov has taken some heat from the left for his unabashedly pro-Israel stance and willingness to call out antisemitism, such as on college campuses in Pennsylvania.
Earlier this month, an anti-Shapiro group called “No Genocide Josh” launched both a website and X profile urging Harris to look elsewhere for a running mate.
“He compared peaceful protestors to KKK ralliers, has opposed a ceasefire in Palestine, has promoted private school vouchers, and has covered up a sexual harassment scandal in his own office,” the website’s home page reads.
Rep. Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat, called out the group in a tweet Friday, condemning the antisemitism Shapiro has faced from the left flank of his party, calling it a “far left smear campaign.”
“The antisemitic far left must never be given veto power over the selection of a presidential running mate,” Torres’ tweet concluded.
Proponents of Shapiro say his more conservative positions on Israel and school choice could energize moderate voters to come out for Harris – especially as voters continue to perceive the VP as more liberal than the outgoing President Joe Biden, who only narrowly won the purple state in 2020.
