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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009860552_antisemitic14m.html?syndication=rss

Sometime Saturday night or early Sunday, someone painted red
swastikas on two synagogues in the Seward Park neighborhood, according
to Seattle police and synagogue members.

Rabbi Moshe Kletenik of the Bikur Cholim-Machzikay Hadath synagogue
on South Morgan Street, said he is the child of two Holocaust survivors
and noted that there are members of the synagogue who also are children
of survivors.

"That makes this especially upsetting and disheartening to people," he said.

But, he added that surrounding neighbors were quick to provide
support. And the graffiti already were being removed after police
gathered evidence, he said. The synagogue, he said, is the oldest in
the state, founded in 1891, and has about 300 families.

Sarah Rivkin, a member of the synagogue, saw the graffiti Sunday
morning and said the side entrance had a swastika and the words "4th
Riech."

"The person was moderately illiterate," said Rivkin, noting the correct spelling is "Reich."

Rivkin also saw the word "Nazi" painted in red and at least eight swastikas in the area.

She said people were inside the synagogues late Saturday during the
incident, praying and preparing for the upcoming Rosh Hashana — the
Jewish New Year, which starts Friday at sundown.

"We have a choice: Do we take this as just another attack and feel
like we're victims or do we choose to see it as a spiritual wake-up
call?" she said. "Ideally, of course, it's better that these things
never happen."

The Jewish New Year is a time for evaluation and reflection for
people individually and as part of the Jewish community, she added.

Seattle police reported that the synagogues in the 5100 block of
South Morgan Street and in the 6500 block of 52nd Avenue South, as well
as a driveway and sidewalk near a home, were both defaced. Josh
Normand, a member of the other synagogue, the defaced Sephardic Bikur
Holim congregation, said he's disgusted.

"I'm not an alarmist," he said. "I'd like to be levelheaded, but I like people to not have our heads in the sand."

The Seattle Police Department encourages anyone with information to call the Bias Crimes Unit at 206-233-3898.

Seattle police also reported that transportation workers will be removing the graffiti from public areas.