A 54-year-old woman, Tikvah Mottahedeh, was arrested this week on charges of a hate crime and vandalism after allegedly ramming her car into the gates of the Eretz Synagogue Cultural Center in Tarzana, California. The incident occurred early Thursday morning and Mottahedeh was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. She has been booked into the Van Nuys Jail with bail set at $25,000.
According to FOX 11, the Eretz Synagogue Cultural Center of Tarzana issued a statement expressing their belief that the act of vandalism was not motivated by hatred or anti-Semitism. They described it as an act of mere vandalism and emphasized their community’s resilience in the face of such incidents. The statement read, “Our community still stands as strong as ever, and will preserve through any moment, especially a moment that is as melancholic as this one.”
The synagogue further highlighted the long history of trials and tribulations that the Jewish community has faced in order to freely practice their religion. They acknowledged the existence of anti-Semitism and expressed their determination to continue practicing their beliefs and customs despite attempts to immobilize them.
This incident comes in the wake of heightened tensions over the war in Gaza, which recently saw the death of a 69-year-old Jewish man due to head injuries sustained during a fight at a pro-Israel demonstration in Los Angeles. The Eretz Synagogue Cultural Center has provided surveillance footage to the police as they continue their investigation into the incident.
The Israel Defense Forces have also conducted retaliatory air strikes against several Hezbollah targets, further contributing to the volatile situation.
