Members and supporters of a Jewish congregation in Vernon Hills are saddened and outraged following the discovery of antisemitic graffiti at the synagogue — but they’re pledging to fight the hateful message with love.

A retaining wall near the parking lot at Congregation Or Shalom, 21 Hawthorn Parkway, was vandalized about 8:30 p.m. Sunday night. Someone used spray paint to draw a lewd symbol and write a short phrase targeting Jews, Vernon Hills police said.

The graffiti, which faced the synagogue, was discovered Tuesday morning by an employee arriving for work, Rabbi Ari Margolis said.

Acts of antisemitism have been on the rise across the U.S. and globally in recent years, with a big spike coming after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel and the start of the war in Gaza, multi

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