A shocking act of vandalism has left the Jewish community in Cincinnati, Ohio, reeling after nearly 200 gravestones were damaged across two Jewish cemeteries. The Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati (JCGC), which oversees the Tifereth Israel Cemetery and Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Cemetery in Covedale, discovered the extensive damage on Monday morning.
Sue Susskind, Executive Director of JCGC, expressed her dismay at the scene: “Your initial reaction is just sick to your stomach. What we do is lay people to rest and take care of their final resting place, and we were not able to do that because somebody else came in and chose to do vandalism.”
The scale of the destruction suggests that multiple perpetrators were involved, given the weight of the headstones. Susskind noted that while the motive is not confirmed, the current global climate since October 7 raises suspicions of a hate crime. “This is an awful lot of work for somebody just wanting to do something mischievous,” she added.
The vandalism occurred between June 25 and the discovery date, with no surveillance footage available to aid the investigation. Many of the affected graves date back to the 1800s, complicating efforts to contact descendants. The JCGC is now faced with the challenging task of identifying and notifying affected families using their database.
In response to the incident, the FBI has joined the investigation, underscoring the seriousness of the crime. The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati is urging the public to come forward with any information that could help identify the perpetrators.
Despite the distressing nature of the vandalism, Susskind called for community solidarity: “All I can say is that as a community, we have to rally together and not let fear get the best of us.” The JCGC is accepting donations to a monument repair fund to help restore the damaged graves.
This incident has not only desecrated sacred ground but also sent shockwaves through the Jewish community, highlighting ongoing concerns about antisemitism and the need for vigilance in protecting cultural and religious sites. As the investigation continues, local authorities and community leaders are emphasizing the importance of unity and resilience in the face of such acts of hatred.
Credit: thenationaldesk.com
