A mural erected on the ground of a Jewish temple that burned during the January 2025 Eaton Fire has been horrifically defaced with antisemitic imagery.

Vandals painted swastikas and other anti-semitic graffiti on the mural at the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, the synagogue announced Friday.

“Today, we are deeply saddened and outraged by this act, but we refuse to let it define our community,” the temple wrote on social media. “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 on the 1400 block of Altadena Drive in Pasadena was created after the Eaton Fire in response to a separate act of antisemitism.

“The mural became something much bigger,” the social media post continued. “It grew into a symbol of hope, resilience, and solidarity — not just for [the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center], but for the entire Altadena community.”

Photos of the mural show the colorful mosaic with “Zionzim [sic] is not welcome” written over it in black spray paint and at least three black swastikas.

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said it was investigating the incident as a “hate-motivated act of vandalism.”

State Sen. Sasha Renee Perez, who represents the area, condemned the graffiti.

“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 to KTLA. “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.”

“Crimes motivated by hate have no place in our community,” LASD Altadena Station Capt. Ethan Marquez added. “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.”

Children originally helped paint the mural along with artist Miriam Hellmann, the Art over Hate Collective, the Sparks of Kindness Youth Fund, as well as other volunteers and community members. They said the artwork “helped transform a wall once marked by hate into a work of healing and beauty.”

“Thank you to everyone who has already reached out with messages of love and support. Your kindness reminds us that we are never alone,” they concluded.

The Jewish center has yet to build its new home but hopes to finish construction and start worship in a new synagogue by 2028.

The Eaton Fire is one of the most destructive in California history and ripped through the areas of Altadena and Pasadena. The fire caused billions of dollars in damage and killed more than a dozen people.

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