SARASOTA – Following the sentencing of the a Suncoast synagogue vandal, two rabbis are speaking out.
22-yr-old Vincent Martinez got five months in Sarasota County jail after vandalizing both Temple Emanu-El and Temple Sinai last year.
“We are so appreciative to law enforcement and to everyone who has been working on this case for taking it seriously, for taking our safety and our fears and concerns seriously,” said Rabbi Samantha Kahn, of Temple Sinai.
Martinez plead guilty to three counts of felony criminal mischief motivated by hate and prejudice spray-painting swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti at both synagogues in April and July of 2020.
“What was done was a crime, it’s just paint, it’s just words you might think, but words and symbols, they lead to violence and they’re acts of desecration and they’re painful, not just for the sacred space where they’re inflicted but on the hearts of those who worship there who find literally sanctuary within those walls,” said Rabbi Elaine Glickman of Temple Emanu-El.
As part of the guilty plea, Martinez paid restitution to the synagogues for costs of removing the spray paint or repainting the parts where the vandalism couldn’t be removed. He also repaid the insurance company for settlement of one claim. Everyone hopes the incident will serve as a teaching moment
“All of our community, outside of the Jewish community to all care for one another, respect one another, differences do exist, but we are one community,” said Director of Early Childhood Education of Temple Sinai, Laura Freedman.
Moving forward, Rabbi Kahn hopes to bring positivity.
“It’s our job to keep being who we are and doing it with pride, and not let fear stop us, and not let fear prevent us from bringing our children to school or celebrating together on a holiday and just knowing that the most important thing we can do in the face of hate is continue to love and openly be who we are,” said Rabbi Kahn.
Upon Martinez’s release, he will serve 5 years of probation.
