Swastikas Spray-Painted Inside Synagogue in New Jersey's 'Bnei Brak of America' Sparks Hate Crime Probe

Police in Lakewood, New Jersey, launched an investigation after several swastikas were found spray-painted inside a local synagogue early Wednesday morning last week. Authorities received a report at 5:38 a.m. from an individual who discovered the hate symbols in various locations within the building. Officers documented the graffiti before removing it and are treating the incident as a hate crime. The Lakewood Police Department emphasized their commitment to thoroughly investigating hate-motivated offenses and identifying those responsible. No suspects have been publicly identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Lakewood, with a population exceeding 142,000, is one of New Jersey's fastest-growing cities and is home to a large Orthodox Jewish community, comprising over half its residents. It hosts "Beth Medrash Govoha," the largest yeshiva outside Israel. The city's high birth rate results in a notably young median age, and its Orthodox community wields significant political influence locally and statewide. Due to these characteristics, Lakewood is often referred to as the "Bnei Brak of America," a title it shares officially with the Israeli city since their twinning in 2011.