Mission Viejo Hanukkah Display Vandalized

Vandals dismantled an outdoor display of Jewish religious symbols erected by a group of civic volunteers, but left untouched three Christmas scenes displayed at the same intersection, Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said Monday.

Wooden signs bearing symbols such as a Hanukkah menorah and the Star of David were yanked from the ground sometime overnight and scattered over the corner lot next to Mission Viejo High School. None were damaged beyond repair, and no graffiti or messages were left.

Sheriff’s deputies have no clues to the identities of the vandals, who could be charged with committing a hate crime, said Lt. George Johnson.

“It was certainly a stupid thing to do,” Johnson said. “We’ve had several calls from people who are very upset at this. We’re checking with the district attorney’s office and if it qualifies, we’ll pursue it as a hate crime.”

Rabbi Bradley Artson of Temple Eilat in Mission Viejo said Jews too often are the targets of anti-Semitic acts and comments in Mission Viejo.

“I take this (vandalism) pretty seriously,” he said. “Too many kids are being allowed to think that this type of behavior is acceptable. We have had eggs thrown at our congregation’s homes and Nazi symbols drawn on their property. Our children get pennies thrown at them in school.

“It doesn’t happen consistently enough to be pervasive, but it occurs more than just occasionally,” the rabbi said.

The holiday displays at the intersection are erected each year by the Mission Viejo Activities Committee, a volunteer group that also organizes the St. Patrick’s Day parade and an Independence Day parade and fair.

Group members gathered at the lot Monday afternoon to repair the display in time for a celebration Monday evening that included a choir performance by children who attend a Mission Viejo synagogue.

“I don’t think this had anything to do with Judaism or anti-Semitism,” said Philip Serrins, a past president of the activities committee who helped erect the first Jewish holiday symbol on the corner in 1981. “I feel this was a hormonal type of activity from some misdirected kid. It certainly isn’t reflective of this community.”

Steve Rutenbar, a pastor at Saddleback Valley Community Church in Rancho Santa Margarita, who stopped at the intersection Monday, said, “It breaks my heart. Why would they select these sacred Jewish symbols and leave the Christian symbols on the other corners alone? There is no incentive here except for hate.”

Mission Viejo Mayor Robert Breton said he would ask the City Council to offer a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the vandals.