Acts like these must be condemned as unequivocally at odds with the teachings of Our Savior Jesus Christ, whose birth we mark this day.

Police in Houston and Fort Bend County are investigating two incidents in which Jewish holiday decorations were vandalized.

Investigators do not know if the cases are related but the regional director of the Houston Anti-Defamation League, Martin Cominsky, said he is concerned about the incidents.

"Our hope is that the spirit of the holiday won't get destroyed and that people will understand that we are trying to create a community of respect and destroying other's religious symbols is not the model for that," Cominsky said today.

Cominsky said it is not unusual to have vandalism against holiday and religious decorations.

"Nativity scenes are sometimes destroyed," he said.

"I am concerned that any individual would try to destroy the religious symbol of another," Cominsky said.

The latest incident happened about 9 p.m. Sunday in the 5100 block of Loch Lomond in Meyerland at the home of Brian Cweren .

Cweren said he heard a noise coming from the front yard and looked outside and saw his inflatable menorah had been deflated and was on the ground.

A surveillance camera installed by Cweren captured an image of a man getting out of a Chevrolet Tahoe and walking onto the front yard. The man used something to puncture the menorah then jumped into the Tahoe and sped away.

Cweren said he called police and while he was on the phone the man returned and punctured an inflatable bear.

The man escaped before officers arrived.

Meanwhile, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's office is trying to determine who destroyed a plastic menorah at the entrance of the Lakewind subdivision in the New Territory development.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Terriann Carlson said the incident was reported about 10:45 a.m. Sunday at Homeward Way and Kendall Creek.

A menorah made from plastic pipe and adorned with lights had been smashed, Carlson said.

Police do not know if the two incidents are connected but Carlson said Fort Bend investigators will touch base with Houston police.

Cominsky said the incident in New Territory comes one year after some Jewish residents were frustrated because the neighborhood's holiday decorations only include Christmas items.

"And so a resident appealed to the homeowner's association (this year) and got permission to put up this menorah," Cominsky said.

As I Christian, I offer my solidarity in anger and offense at these acts of violation of symbols of the Jewish faith. It is my sincere hope that the perpetrators are caught and brought to justice quickly for these unacceptable acts.

And may my many Jewish friends, acquaintances, and readers be blessed by God during this holy season, and my they recognize that they and their faith are held in great esteem by the overwhelming majority of Christians.

Posted by: Greg at 09:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 491 words, total size 3 kb.