Customers Decry Closing of Vandalized Jewish Store

Marilyn Klein’s Jewish memorabilia store may be closing because of repeated anti-Semitic vandalism, but on Friday business was booming, with many customers decrying the closure.

“People are coming in, telling me they are very upset,” Klein said. “My daughter had a customer who was visibly upset. He was a non-Jewish customer who was actually crying. I even had a customer drive in all the way from Thousand Oaks who was crying.”

The House of Mazel has been owned by Klein and her husband, Jerry, who is postmaster of Thousand Oaks, for six years. Mazel means “luck” in Hebrew.

In the past five years, anti-Semitic slogans have been spray-painted on the side of the shop, and flyers that equate Jews with the Antichrist have been placed inside the shop’s broken windows.

But it was the last episode in late April, when the windows of the store were shot out, that made the Kleins decide to close the store.

“The vandalism is because it’s a Jewish store; it’s no doubt,” she said.

Recent news articles on the store closure prompted the brisk business Friday. Klein admitted she wasn’t sure how to cope with the media attention or the customers in her small shop on East Main Street near Ventura High School in Ventura.

“Right now things are happening so fast,” she said. “I was depressed when we made the decision to close, like I was giving up. But I feel this is for my own safety. There is nothing to fight back with. I can’t afford a 24-hour guard.”

After the Kleins moved to Ventura seven years ago from the San Fernando Valley, Marilyn Klein took a job at Temple Beth Torah in Ventura.

“I worked at the temple for six months,” Klein said, “and realized there was no place to get Jewish-type items for Hanukkah or decorations. There is nothing in the tri-counties area, so the next thing I knew, I opened the shop.”

The last day of business will be July 1, but the store may close sooner if the inventory is sold. Besides religious articles, the shop carries Jewish symbols, stationery, literature, statuary and many specialty items from Israel.

Klein said she has taken the acts of vandalism against the store personally.

“My whole life, growing up, this is the first time I’ve had it directed toward me,” she said.

She plans to continue party planning and ordering specialty items for clients at home. She will also continue doing calligraphy invitations for weddings and bar mitzvahs, but said she will miss her contact with customers.

“At this point, I’m not considering opening up anyplace else. If I did, it would have to be the right place, secure. Someplace that wouldn’t be on the main street, like this is.”

Anti-Semitic vandalism has also hit the eastern area of the county. In Thousand Oaks, the Ventura County Crime Stoppers last week offered a $6,000 reward for information leading to arrest and prosecution in connection with a series of arson-related fires at a Thousand Oaks synagogue.

Three suspicious fires have caused more than $30,000 worth of damage to the roof, sanctuary, sanctuary door and telephone lines at Temple Adat Elohim since March.