Collier County synagogue receives community support amid vandalism

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GOLDEN GATE ESTATES, Fla. — Community members and different religious groups offered support to Temple Shalom after their sign was vandalized with shotgun bullets last week.

Mohamed Al-Darsani, president of the Islamic Center for Peace, and Pastor Rusty May of the Interfaith Action Group of Southwest Florida condemn the attacks and are calling on the community to come together.

“This is an opportunity to show our solidarity for anyone who is a victim of these kind of things,” Al-Darsani said. “We should show that we are not going to stand idle in the face of this kind of violence.”

It’s still remains unclear who fired at Temple Shalom’s sign. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has called it a “suspicious incident” and said they don’t know yet whether the shots were intentional.

However, Rabbi Adam Miller firmly believes it wasn’t an accident.

“I certainly think it was something that was done intentionally,” he said. “That was done purposefully to a synagogue sign and property and I think that’s something we should all be concerned about.”

Although he is concerned, Rabbi Miller also said he was overjoyed by the amount of support he’s received.

“A man in the community is offering to pay if it was necessary to fix the sign,” he said. “Just the outpouring of emotion of desire to make a difference to help says so much about our community and gives me a lot of hope.”

Rabbi Miller is holding a Shabbat of solidarity at the synagogue at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The public is welcome to attend.

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