Portsmouth police seek this suspect for smashing antique lamps at Temple Israel

PORTSMOUTH — Police are working to identify a person who smashed the glass on two lamps hanging outside Temple Israel Monday evening in what temple leaders are calling an "act of hatred."

The city Police Department announced Friday morning the unidentified person committed criminal mischief around 8:30 p.m. Monday by striking the two lamps, both of which had the Star of David on them.

“The individual broke the glass on the two lamps and left,” said Portsmouth police Capt. David Keaveny.

Temple Israel alarmed by acts of hate

Temple Israel Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman said a person climbed the steps at the front of the building Monday evening, took a hammer out of a bag and smashed the two antique light sconces.

Both were installed in 1921 when the building underwent a renovation project, according to Temple Israel board of directors member Doug Tilton.

“It wasn’t just an attack on our building. It was really a clearly communicated act of hatred against our community, our history and our ancestors,” Stern-Kaufman said. “We have always experienced tremendous support from the Portsmouth community and we’re deeply grateful for the support we receive, but clearly there is an atmosphere of hatred that is growing, being that this is the second attack on our sacred space in a little over a year.”

The incident marks another act of vandalism at the State Street house of worship. In February 2023, the Temple Israel, numerous downtown area businesses, buildings and a residence were targeted in an overnight spree of hateful, spray-painted graffiti, an incident that has since been resolved by the New Hampshire attorney general’s office.

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Temple Israel leaders are working to receive an estimate for restoring the lamps and having them reinstalled outside.

“We definitely at this point are pursuing some kind of a restoration,” Tilton said. "They’re really an important feature of the building … I really see it as an assault on the community in some ways as much as the building. My specific role has to do with protecting this building but it ends up feeling very personal. I think we can all feel it.”

A plaque outside Temple Israel, steps away from the now-damaged antique lamps, declares the sanctuary as the “First Permanent Jewish House of Worship in New Hampshire." The Jewish congregation has been in the synagogue since 1912.

Led by Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley, whose downtown business Cup of Joe Café and Bar was targeted in the hateful graffiti barrage, community organizers held a “Love Blooms Here” event days after the graffiti incident last winter. Local florists donated flowers and members of the public brought them to the Temple Israel, the affected businesses and nearby buildings that were hit with hateful imagery and messages.

“It’s my experience that anytime something like this happens, Portsmouth responds and becomes stronger in the face of that,” city Mayor Deaglan McEachern said Friday. “I expect that to happen again.”

McEachern was notified of the recent anti-Semitic incident on Thursday, he said.

“To have that symbolism attacked but also historical symbolism of the length of time it’s been in Portsmouth is troubling,” he said of the sconces. “I expect the community to rise up against this and be supportive of those worshippers in the temple and the community at large that will feel attacked by this.”

Police ask public to help identify suspect

Portsmouth police are asking the public to help identify the person responsible for Monday’s damage at the temple.

Members of the public with information about the incident or the perpetrator are asked by police to contact Keaveny at (603) 610-7511.

Anonymous tips can be made through Seacoast Crime Stoppers by calling (603) 431-1199, at seacoastcrimestoppers.com or through the “P3” phone app available as a free download.

Rewards of up to $1,000 may be paid for help solving cases if the information leads to an arrest or indictment, according to police.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Suspect seen on camera smashing Temple Israel lamps in Portsmouth NH