Reaction pouring in to UF Chabad vandalism as police search for suspect

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Police are searching a suspect that was caught on camera vandalizing signs outside UF Chabad Jewish Student and Community Center.

The co-director of Chabad says it’s supposed to be a safe place for students to escape from daily life.

“Now they’re all of a sudden turned fearful because of an act of cowardice,” said Chani Goldman. “This person came in the wee hours of the morning, when it was raining and when it was cold and when they thought they couldn’t be caught, and they scribbled these words and they just created so much fear.”

Cameras outside the building show the person in the act, writing messages such as “Burn in hell.”

“One of the areas vandalized was a ‘Gator Nation Stands With Israel’ sign outside the building, and there are also antisemitic messages left on the ground.

“We’re really lucky because Gainesville for the most part is a very accepting community,” said the executive director of the Jewish Council of North Central Florida, Linda Mauirce. “I know there have been some tensions on both sides of the conflict...But there are possibilities for dialogue, and I would rather see people get together to talk than use paint.”

Another act of vandalism at a UF Jewish organization took place earlier this month.

The Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity had a sign supporting Israel defaced.

“I’ve lived in other places including abroad and I see that hate is something that ferments and it grows,” said Maurice. “There’s a lot of propaganda out there...If you don’t widen your scope of how you’re getting your information, then it’s very narrow and it’s often one-sided.”

“When there’s darkness,” said Goldman, “you just add light. When there’s evil or negativity brought upon you, you just add in good deeds. So right now we’re not going to take away anything that we’re doing. We’re just going to keep adding more programs, adding more classes.”

Goldman said Chabad is looking into adding more security.