Vandals destroy menorah sculpted from sand in Juno Beach; synagogue rebuilds it in one day

Maya Washburn, Palm Beach Post

JUNO BEACH — A sand-sculpted menorah stood tall for five days by the Juno Beach Pier as a representation of goodness and light to the Jewish community. Then a vandal destroyed it and defaced it with a swastika on Tuesday.

Members of the Jewish Community Synagogue in North Palm Beach commission an artist to mold a sculpture of a menorah in the sand every Hanukkah. They paid the artist to rebuild the sandcastle at the same spot on the beach in time for a communal lighting at 5:15 p.m. tonight.

Juno Beach police are investigating the incident and had not arrested anyone connected to the vandalism as of Wednesday morning. A full report was not immediately available.

Antisemitism in Florida: Israel attack takes place amid backdrop of rising attacks in state, elsewhere

Community vows to 'come back stronger' after antisemitic act

The Jewish Community Synagogue of North Palm Beach had this menorah sculpted from sand near the Juno Beach Pier to celebrate Hanukkah in December 2023. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, a vandal knocked it over and put a swastika in its place. Juno Beach police are investigating.
The Jewish Community Synagogue of North Palm Beach had this menorah sculpted from sand near the Juno Beach Pier to celebrate Hanukkah in December 2023. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, a vandal knocked it over and put a swastika in its place. Juno Beach police are investigating.

More than 100 people gathered to watch the lighting of the candles embedded in the menorah sand castle on Dec. 7, which was the first night of Hanukkah.

It wasn’t until Tuesday morning that members of the synagogue received frantic calls from beachgoers who found the menorah knocked down and replaced with a large black swastika symbol on the small mound of sand that remained.

Ira Jacobson, a member of the synagogue and the Florida director of Herut, a nonprofit that supports Israel, woke up to the news.

“The swastika is a symbol of death,” said Jacobson, who lives in Jupiter. “This is a horrible situation, but we will build on it and come back stronger and brighter than ever. Every time someone tries to douse our flame, we are going to relight it.”

A new approach: New Palm Beach County center hoping to fight the ‘virus’ of antisemitism

Jacobson said that while it was a horrific act of hate, he was not surprised when he heard the news because he is noticing increasing acts of antisemitism in the area.

“We just want to live our lives, but antisemitism is not local or state, but worldwide,” Jacobson said. “This is pure racism. I believe the war in Israel just brought out the people waiting for an excuse to target the Jewish people.”

Amy Terwilleger, an attorney who lives in Palm Beach Gardens, attended the lighting on Dec. 7 with her two kids. She said it was a beautiful, family-friendly celebration with music, food, sparklers and toys for kids.

“The menorah wasn’t hurting anyone and it wasn’t a political statement,” Terwilleger said. “It is a symbol of love, unity, peace and light. For someone to take that and create a symbol of hatred is unnecessary and sad. There’s no reasonable explanation for it.”

County official: Menorah vandals to 'face legal consequences'

The remains of a menorah that the Jewish Community Synagogue had sculpted from sand stand near the Juno Beach Pier on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. The synagogue had the sculptor rebuild the menorah so its candles could be lit on Wednesday, Dec.13, Hanukkah's seventh night.
The remains of a menorah that the Jewish Community Synagogue had sculpted from sand stand near the Juno Beach Pier on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. The synagogue had the sculptor rebuild the menorah so its candles could be lit on Wednesday, Dec.13, Hanukkah's seventh night.

Rabbi Leib Ezagui of the Jewish Community Synagogue said that the vandalism will not stop the synagogue from building another menorah sand castle next year.

“While I am thankful for the five days (the menorah) lasted and the thousands of people who enjoyed its art, love, and message, I am sad, angry, and not sure how to gather my thoughts that once again hate had its way in Palm Beach County,” Ezagui said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Our dream of hope and peace was shattered once again! The menorah is our symbol of hope and resilience. Mr. Hate: your actions may have targeted this symbol, but the resilience of the menorah and the Jewish community will shine brighter.”

'Never needed us more': Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County plans monthly trips to Israel

Gregg Weiss, Palm Beach County Commissioner representing the central-northern part of the county, released a statement on Dec. 13 condemning the vandalism as an act of hate, the kind that "not only defile a work of art but also perpetuate hatred and intolerance."

“I want to reassure our community that the perpetrators of this reprehensible act will be held accountable. Palm Beach County has laws and ordinances in place to ensure that such incidents are thoroughly investigated, and those responsible will face legal consequences," Weiss said.

Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Sand-sculpture menorah destroyed near Juno Beach Pier amid Hanukkah

Advertisement