Jewish Cemetery in Rosedale Defaced by Antisemitic Graffiti

September 21, 2023 JMORE Staff

In July of 2021, more than a dozen gravestones were vandalized at the German Hill Road Jewish Cemeteries in Dundalk. (File photos)

Local media reports that the Baltimore County Police Department is investigating a case of vandalism at the Lubawitz Nusach Ari/Ner Tamid Cemetery in Northeast Baltimore’s Rosedale community. Hate symbols were reportedly spraypainted at the entrance to the 4-acre cemetery at the 6300 block of Hamilton Avenue.

A police spokesman said the matter is being investigated as a “bias incident.”

“Any time there’s any type of hate crime or any type of destruction of property related to those types of things, we’re always concerned in Baltimore County,” said Baltimore County Police Chief Robert O. McCullough at a public safety meeting on Wednesday evening, Sept. 20. “We always document and investigate those types of incidents, and I’m sure that we will be dedicating all resources to investigating that issue.”

Police were called to the cemetery at approximately 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Baltimore resident Brad E. Kauffman, an attorney, told WBAL-TV that he noticed the graffiti — a bright red swastika and other offensive images — while visiting the cemetery, where his grandparents are buried.

“It was really disheartening that people have hate in themselves to spread this vile message,” he said. “My mother came here to visit her father’s grave before the upcoming Yom Kippur holiday, where it’s customary for Jews to visit their loved ones. She was horrified to see this. … It has happened in other cemeteries and even here in Baltimore. So it’s not a new issue, but it’s still appalling every time you see it. … We’re good people and this is not something that they should be doing. It’s just disgusting.”

Cemetery workers reportedly removed the graffiti.

“This act of hate is a reminder of the responsibility that our community and The Associated network has for the security and safety of our community,” posted The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore on social media on Sept. 21. “A responsibility to respond to incidents like this. And a responsibility to educate. Unfortunately, this means our Campaign to Combat Antisemitism and Protect Our Community grows more critical every day.”

In July of 2021, antisemitic graffiti was discovered on more than a dozen gravestones at Dundalk’s German Hill Road Jewish cemeteries.

“We know there are some people who are filled with hate,” Baltimore Jewish Council Executive Director Howard Libit told The Sun. “We hope it’s a relatively small number.”