300+ Stand Up Against Antisemitism Sunday In Chesterbrook

TREDYFFRIN, PA — More than 300 men, women, and children united Sunday afternoon against anti-semitism in the wake of instances of swastikas spray-painted throughout Chesterbrook and in Gateway Shopping Center.

Robin Schatz, director of government affairs for the Jewish Federation of Philadelphia, said the turnout was fabulous.

“It’s nice to see so many people from the five-county region working together against antisemitism,” she said as the crowd gathered at the Forge Mountain development along Chesterbrook Boulevard, where a swastika was discovered on April 20.

The crowd stood silently for more than an hour as more than a dozen speakers from the clergy and community sent a strong message against antisemitism.

“Enough is enough," Marian Moskowitz, chairwoman of the Chester County commissioners said, summing up the message of the rally against antisemitism. “We cannot let this happen."

Lisa Schreiber, an organizer of the rally, said that swastikas defaced buildings and street signs near her home.

“I would like to say that it is shocking, but it wasn’t,” she said. “We’ve been hearing about this major uptick in antisemitism that has been happening across the country.”

Schreiber noted that just four hours west of Tredyffrin, the federal trial of a gunman in the massacre at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh is underway.

She also noted that the White House released its first-ever national strategy to combat antisemitism.

Andrew Goretsky, regional director for the Anti-Defamation League of Greater Philadelphia, said there were 3,697 incidents reported in 2022 across the nation.

"Hate is unacceptable,” he said.

Antisemitism graffiti surfaced in Tredyffrin at the end of March.

On March 25, Tredyffrin police were notified of antisemitic graffiti on a retail establishment at Gateway Shopping Center and along Valley Forge Road.

The following day, a citizen discovered racially insensitive graffiti on multiple signs including racial slurs and antisemitic symbols at Valley Forge Middle School.

Subsequently, a 15-year-old was arrested as a juvenile for spraypainting racial slurs and swastikas at the Valley Forge Middle School.

Swastikas were found on Chesterbrook Boulevard and in other locations in the township on April 20.

Clergy speak out

The Rev. Nathaniel Mahlberg, of the United Church of Christ at Valley Forge, said the Upper Main Line religious leaders are speaking out against hate against the Jewish community.

“We have the responsibility to defy the spread of the word of the corrupt values and misinformation that motivate hate,” he said.

Mahlerg read a list of more than a dozen local ministers committed to stopping antisemitism.

Rabbi Beth Kalisch, of Beth David Reform Congregation, Gladwyne, led the group in singing a song to build a world of love in both Hebrew and English.

Community Organizer

Howard Griffel, a Chesterbrook resident who discovered the swastika sign near his home on April 20, thanked the community for its support.

Griffel, an organizer of the rally, said he was born in Germany in 1948 and was in a displaced persons camp for two years before coming to the United States. He got his citizenship when he was just 12 years old.

He said the conditions in Germany in the aftermath of the Holocaust were horrendous.

“Most of the survivors went to Israel,” he said. “There were not many who went to the United States. I knew one person from Italy.”

Tredyffrin Supervisor Mark Freed said that antisemitism has always been an issue with Jewish people.

“I wish it was going away,” he said.

Supervisor KS Baskar said Tredyffrin welcomes all people regardless of the color of their skin or their faith.

“Tredyffrin is a place where hate has no home,” he said.

Following the speeches, signs saying "Antisemitism Will Not Live in Tredyffrin/Easttown" were distributed.

Tredyffrin police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 610-644-3221.