PASADENA, CA – A mural installed at the site of a Jewish temple that burned during the Eaton Fire was vandalized with swastikas and antisemitic writing, prompting a hate-motivated vandalism investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center announced the vandalism Friday, saying the mural had been created after a previous antisemitic incident and had become a symbol of healing for the congregation and the wider Altadena community.
“Today, we are deeply saddened and outraged by this act, but we refuse to let it define our community,” the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center wrote in a social media post. “We are working closely with law enforcement and our security partners as the incident is investigated and as we determine the next steps to restore the mural.”
The mural is located in the 1400 block of Altadena Drive, in an unincorporated area near Pasadena. The temple site was damaged after the Eaton Fire burned through the area in January 2025.
Photos of the vandalism showed swastikas and antisemitic writing on the mural, including a phrase reading “Zionzim is not welcome,” apparently referring to Zionism.
The Anti-Defamation League defines Zionism as the movement for Jewish self-determination and statehood in the ancestral homeland of Israel, while noting that not all Jewish people explicitly identify as Zionists.
Information reviewed by Street People indicates the mural had taken on meaning beyond the temple itself after the fire, serving as a public expression of resilience following both the destruction of the site and a prior act of antisemitism.
“The mural became something much bigger,” the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center wrote. “It grew into a symbol of hope, resilience, and solidarity – not just for [the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center], but for the entire Altadena community.”
State Sen. Sasha Renee Perez, who represents Senate District 25, including the Pasadena area, condemned the vandalism and described it as a hate crime.
“It is truly disturbing and particularly cruel to spread hate and inflict fresh pain on the congregation of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center,” Perez said in a statement. “This community discovered antisemitic graffiti had been written on a new mural that was created to foster community healing after a previous hate crime in January.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it is investigating the incident as a hate-motivated act of vandalism.
LASD Altadena Station Capt. Ethan Marquez said the department condemns antisemitic vandalism “in the strongest possible terms.”
“Crimes motivated by hate have no place in our community,” Marquez said. “We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation, holding those responsible accountable, and standing with our Jewish community, all faith communities, and every resident against all forms of hatred and intolerance.”
The vandalism comes at a painful moment for the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center community, which has already been working to recover after the Eaton Fire destroyed its temple site. Community leaders said the mural was intended to help restore a sense of unity and hope after loss.
Perez said those responsible must be held accountable.
“I am deeply concerned by this latest attack and the person or people responsible must be held accountable,” Perez said. “I know the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center congregation will once again find the resolve and spirit to heal from this act of ignorance and intolerance.”
No suspects have been publicly identified.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact the LASD Altadena Station at 626-798-1131.
