Minnesota’s Largest Synagogue Vandalized With Graffiti

Purple spray-painted letters were left on all sides of Temple Israel in the Minneapolis Uptown neighborhood. Graffiti also was left on the historic synagogue's large stately columns that front Hennepin Avenue.

The vandalism comes amid the celebration of Passover, which began Monday evening. But Jewish religious leaders say the vandalism doesn't immediately appear to be hate-related.

Temple Israel senior rabbi Marcia Zimmerman tells the Star Tribune (http://bit.ly/15Vqfry) security cameras show a man vandalizing the temple sometime before midnight Tuesday.

Built in 1928, the synagogue is among the first in the Twin Cities and has close to 6,000 attendees.

The synagogue planned to clean off the graffiti by the end of Wednesday.