Police release images as part of investigation into hate graffiti at synagogue

Hamilton police have released security photos showing four suspects as part of their investigation into hate-based graffiti that was scrawled outside the Beth Jacob Synagogue.

When Rabbi Hillel Lavery-Yisraeli arrived at the synagogue Saturday morning for bible study, he said he discovered that anti-Semitic symbols had been drawn around the property.

The graffiti — chalk drawings of a swastika and the word 'Jews' crossed out — was found in four places, including two spots in the parking lot, in a lane, and on the sidewalk of Aberdeen Avenue.

Lavery-Yisraeli said that while he has experienced anti-Semitic hate before, the drawings caught him off guard. 

"It was very hard for me, harder than I expected" he said. "It was very hard for me to go about business as usual knowing that there are these hateful people in the neighbourhood who really want us gone.

"Is that where society is in 2019? Is that the Canada we're raising our children in?" 

Investigators say they released the photos to try and identify the people shown in the grainy black and white photos and are asking residents to check their security cameras for any suspicious activity.