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Taunton synagogue spraypainted with swastickas, hate speech
TAUNTON — Gordon Amgott and Michael Novick have both been members of the congregation of Agudath Achim Synagogue in Taunton for over 40 years.
Amgott and Novick, who are both members of the synagogue’s board of directors, say in all that time there’s never been any incident of vandalism or property damage done to the building…until just now.
Over the weekend, swastikas and other hate speech were spray-painted onto the walls of the synagogue, located on Winthrop Street.
“Our people’s reactions have ranged from sadness to outrage,” said Mija Almeida, President of the Board of Directors for the congregation.
The incident occurred at 1:42 p.m. on Friday, June 16 when a person walked up to the front entrance of the synagogue. After spray painting a swastika at the front, the person went around to the side and back of the building to add more racist graffiti, including antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-Black slurs.
According to Almeida, the congregation typically holds weekly Shabbat/Sabbath services Saturday mornings, reserving Friday night services once a month, at the end of the month. That is why the graffiti wasn’t discovered by anyone until Saturday morning, at around 8:45 a.m. when staff and congregation were showing up for services, as well as a bat mitzvah scheduled that morning.
The swastika was immediately covered up with posterboard and duct tape, and it still is at time of writing this article.
Aside from the graffiti, no other acts of vandalism were found.
The building has surveillance cameras on the outside. Footage of the front entrance was shown to the Gazette. It shows one person, dressed head-to-toe in black and carrying a black backpack, with their face covered by a black hoodie, black sunglasses, and black mask covering the lower face.
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The board stated Taunton Police were called and an investigation is underway.
“The response from the police has been great,” said Novick.
The board has also been in communication with the Anti-Defamation League.
Said Novick: “Now, it’s about healing our congregation and keeping them feeling safe.”
By Sunday morning, an e-mail was sent out to every member of the congregation, informing them, if they didn’t already know.
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From the letter sent out to the congregation on June 18: “These events are unsettling in the least and frightening to most. It is the position of the Board of Directors that the safety and overall welfare of the congregation is of paramount importance. It is also our position that no cowardly act of hate or intimidation will alter or deter in any way our commitment to our synagogue or our right to worship.”
Congregation Agudath Achim, Taunton’s only synagogue, is described on its website as progressive and independent, meaning it doesn’t follow denominational norms established in orthodox, conservative or reform Judaism.
The congregation is especially welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community, as evidence by the Pride Flag waiving at the front entrance of the building. It holds a Pride-themed Shabbat every June.
Novick said the graffiti won’t be removed from the building until the Board gets the OK from Taunton PD and the ADL.
Said Amgott: “This is our community; we’ve always felt supported in this city.”
Almeida said she’s already received calls from members of the congregation, who have expressed “their resolve to stand strong and say ‘we won’t back down to hate, or be intimidated or bullied’.”
