By COLlive reporter
The Chabad Jewish Student Center at the University of Kentucky, also identified as Chabad of the Bluegrass led by Rabbi Shlomo and Shoshi Litvin, has been the victim of vandalism yet again – the 4th time in 5 years.
“Sunday afternoon we had some construction outside the Jewish Student Center, so I came outside to supervise,” Rabbi Litvin told WKYT. “I noticed that our sign had been beaten in and that the menorah’s base had been messed with as well.”
Rabbi Litvin said he had the menorah fixed quickly as the holiday of Chanukah is approaching when it will be publicly lit. The damage to the sign was $600.
“That sign has taken on an incredible meaning,” Rabbi Litvin said. “The menorah next to it, the original sign of religious freedom, the ultimate American expression that I have the right to my beliefs, which is what the menorah represents, to see those things attacked is extremely painful for many of our students.”
He called it “an apparent hate crime” and said it was “especially disturbing coming after a string of hate crimes against Jewish centers across the country.” Rabbi Litvin was recently also the target of threats, leading elected and public officials to rally around Chabad.
But he said these attacks will not lead him to despair.
“The intention of all of these actions, all the ones against us and the ones across the country is to sow fear and disunity and distrust,” Rabbi Litvin said. “The fact is when we don’t let it do that when we respond rather with light and with joy and with faith then that is the ultimate response to that hateful action.”
Rabbi Litvin said they are reviewing security camera footage and working with Lexington Police to hold the suspect or suspects accountable.
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