Authorities are investigating a potential hate crime after an antisemitic message and swastikas were spray-painted on a mural near the site of a burned Jewish temple in Pasadena, California. The vandalism occurred last Friday in the 1400 block of North Altadena Drive, within the unincorporated area of Pasadena, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Altadena station. The number of suspects involved remains unclear.

The damaged mural, which features a large, bright orange poppy design, was created as a symbol of hope, resilience, and solidarity following the devastating 2025 Eaton fire. That wildfire destroyed more than 9,000 structures in the area and resulted in 19 fatalities, including the destruction of the historic Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center. The synagogue has been operating off-site for over a year since the fire reduced the more than 100-year-old building to rubble.

Rabbi Josh Ratner said one of the temple’s congregants who lives nearby discovered the recent vandalism on Sunday. The mural, painted by scenic artist Miriam Hellmann, prominently carries the message "We are all responsible for each other," and was commissioned after a previous defacement of the temple’s remaining exterior wall earlier this year.

“The mural was erected in response to that prior act of graffiti,” Ratner said. A surveillance camera was installed following the initial vandalism, and footage has been provided to law enforcement. The temple community expressed deep sadness and outrage at the latest incident but emphasized their determination not to let the hate crime define them.

The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, originally established in 1921 as Temple B’nai Israel of Pasadena, historically served as a sanctuary for Jewish residents who faced housing discrimination through exclusionary covenants that barred them and other minority groups from purchasing property in Pasadena and surrounding areas. The congregation relocated to the Altadena Drive site in 1941 and adopted its current name in 1949.

Longtime member Kristine Garroway, who has an academic background in archaeology, noted that previous murals at the synagogue date back to the 1920s, although the exact origins of those earlier works remain unknown.

The synagogue has stated it is working closely with authorities to restore the mural, though it has not confirmed whether Hellmann will be involved in the restoration process. Investigators are urging anyone with information to contact the Altadena Sheriff’s Station or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers. The case detective can also be reached via email.