Sightings of anti-Israel graffiti have become a regular occurrence for Jewish residents of Oakland — and others across the Bay Area — since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel and the ensuing war.
But what to do when one spots such graffiti, comes across a more serious act of anti-Israel vandalism, or becomes embroiled in a potentially combative situation?
To address Jewish community concerns over public safety in these times, federal and local law enforcement officials met Sunday with residents of Oakland and Piedmont, as well as Jewish community leaders. About 100 people attended.
The gathering at Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland included representatives from the FBI, the Oakland and Piedmont police departments, the Jewish Federation Bay Area, the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area.
All were invited by the Oakland Jewish Alliance — a group that formed in late 2023 and has been taking action, some of it through legal channels, to fight antisemitism and safeguard the civil rights of the Oakland Jewish community.
Of more than 50 questions that were submitted to panelists beforehand, one stood out: It asked whether carrying a concealed, licensed weapon would be a smart way for people to protect themselves during a potentially dangerous encounter.
Rafael Brinner, head of community security at the Federation, and police officials on the panel advised against it.
“Getting a concealed carry permit is a profoundly personal decision to make,” said Piedmont Chief of Police Frederick Shavies. “However, I don’t like to bring additional guns into our communities. I prefer a more collaborative approach between the community and law enforcement.”
Brinner specifically cautioned against bringing concealed weapons into synagogues and other Jewish communal spaces. He noted that adding another firearm to the mix can confuse law enforcement once they arrive at any active-shooter event in a public space, including a Jewish one.
Most of the panel discussion, however, was about understanding how law enforcement responds to reports of graffiti and vandalism, especially when the messaging aims to threaten a specific group.
Members of OJA’s graffiti cleanup team distributed a handout to attendees showing examples of graffiti it reported to Oakland Public Works and local police. Much of it targeted Israel directly, some calling for the death of Israel or the Israel Defense Forces.
One sighting in particular sounded an alarm for the team.
A year ago this month, team member Jonathan Mates-Muchin was among those who saw graffiti in Oakland that read “Kill them all” next to a Star of David. He reported it to the Oakland Police Department the following day, according to an incident report reviewed by J.
The graffiti was spray-painted onto a path on the eastern side of Lake Merritt, about a half-mile from the Chabad Jewish Center of Oakland — the same center that suffered an act of vandalism in 2023 when its 11-foot Hanukkah menorah was broken into pieces and tossed into Lake Merritt, with antisemitic graffiti left on the base where it had stood.
The menorah incident came up during the event, with FBI Special Agent Ethan Quinn noting that no suspect has yet been identified, but the investigation will continue if more relevant information comes to light.
Addressing the investigation of future crimes, Anthony Tedesco, Oakland’s deputy chief of police, promoted the OPD’s registry of security cameras at private residences and businesses. The registry allows police to see places in Oakland where people have placed cameras; then, as needed, OPD can ask for permission to review footage that may help in an investigation.
“Evidence expectations are really high. People want to see things on camera,” Tedesco said. “Collaboration between community and local police is the key to success.”
Zoe Levine Lenhoff, who leads OJA’s graffiti cleanup team, told J. she has noticed a significant drop in “extreme” graffiti sightings in recent months.
Though her team had previously reported an average of eight graffiti sightings per week, Levine Lenhoff said those numbers dropped to one or two each month from June to August.
As at previous Bay Area security briefings for the Jewish community, law enforcement officials on Sunday stressed the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to the police. Any reports, Tedesco said, may help police investigate related crimes and identify perpetrators more easily.
Non-emergency incidents can be reported to Oakland police at 510-777-3333 and to Piedmont Police at 510-420-3000.
Seth Brysk, regional director of the American Jewish Committee, also emphasized the importance of reporting — whether for upsetting graffiti or more severe incidents.
“Hateful vandalism is important to report. It might not be a crime on its own, but it might be tied to another crime down the line,” Brysk said. “You don’t want your first call to local law enforcement to be a 911 call.”