THE LOOP — The Chicago Loop Synagogue says it's received "phenomenal" support from neighbors after a vandal broke its front window and defaced it with swastika stickers.
The synagogue's broken glass and stickers near Clark and Madison streets had been replaced with letters of support from Jews, Muslims and Christians alike by Monday morning, said Lee Zoldan, the synagogue's president.
Religious leaders will lead an interfaith gathering at noon Wednesday in front of the synagogue, 16 S. Clark St., in a show of solidarity against hate.
Police say the incident happened early Saturday morning.
"When I got the call at 1 in the morning (about the attack) it was very scary, I felt very alone," Zoldan said. "Now as I see there's been such a tremendous outpouring of support, I'm not alone. There's just so many people united against hate and vicious acts."
The gathering will come a few days after a man pulled up to the synagogue, smashed a window, and defaced its front door with swastika stickers. Police have since released surveillance footage of the suspect, but had yet to make an arrest as of Monday afternoon.
RELATED: Hate Crime Suspect Sought After Putting Swastika Stickers On Loop Synagogue
A Muslim child named Iman is one of many people who have written letters of support to the synagogue since Saturday's attack. The synagogue, 16 S. Clark St., has posted some of the letters to its front door. [DNAinfo/David Matthews]
The attack was the first for the synagogue since it opened in 1959, Zoldan said. She said there is troubling "rhetoric" that's recently emerged in society, but declined to speculate on why someone would attack the synagogue now.
"I just try to look at the positive side, which is, 'Can we make any good come out of this? Can we come together? Can we use this to build bridges among communities?'" she said.
Hate crimes in the United States rose six percent in 2015, according to a report released late last year by the FBI. While attacks against Muslims surged the most in 2015 — the most recent year covered by the report — Jews were still the most frequent victims based on religion, the FBI found.
We stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters as they worship at Chicago Loop Synagogue this Sabbath. Hate will not prevail. #NeverAgain
— Cardinal Cupich (@CardinalBCupich) February 4, 2017
Some say the vitriol of the presidential campaign have contributed to recent hate crimes. Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) late last year attributed a rash of swastika stickers placed around the South Loop to Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Swastikas, symbols most closely connected today to white supremacists and Nazi Germany, have also been recently spray-painted on an Austin elementary school and drawn on a church in Pilsen.
Trump has been scrutinized for selecting Steve Bannon — a onetime publisher championed by white nationalists — as a key White House adviser. But Trump has disavowed any association with white supremacy movements.
The Chicago-based Jewish United Fund is leading the interfaith gathering, which starts at noon Wednesday in front of the synagogue. Aaron Cohen, vice president of communications for the fund, said American Jews currently live in "a time of uncertainty" and a "climate of suspicion" that only promotes division.
"All Americans aspire to live in a society that is free from discrimination, from fear," Cohen said. "When anyone thinks it is open season on those values, for whatever reason, then we all stand to lose."
RELATED STORIES:
South Loop Residents Report Recent Rash Of Trump Swastika Stickers
Man Who Wrote Racist Graffiti On Pilsen Church Facing Charges, Police Say
