Secular Israeli Leader’s Home Vandalized as Jewish Extremism Spreads
The Jerusalem home of a secular Jewish educator was vandalized by suspected Jewish extremists.
The graffiti discovered Thursday morning at the home of Yaakov Malkin included a reference to the Book of Psalms about hating “those who are in rebellion” against God, a Star of David and the words “Destruction of Amalek,” referring to the biblical nation that attacked the Israelites fleeing from Egypt. A knife and a threatening letter also were found in front of the house.
Police are investigating the incident; no suspects have been arrested.
Malkin is the academic director of Tmura, the International Institute for Humanistic Secular Judaism, which trains secular rabbis and community leaders for secular communities.
Psalms 139: 21-24 is referenced on the wall around his home. It reads: “Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” The Jews were commanded to wipe out the nation of Amalek.
Malkin, 89, told Haaretz in an interview that he is a second-generation atheist.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30