Summit County Sheriff’s Office detectives are asking for help from the public to identify the individual or individuals responsible for vandalizing signage outside Temple Har Shalom, a Park City synagogue. The damage was discovered sometime over Labor Day weekend. The welcome sign at the temple had its Star of David knocked out and several of its letters "hacked out." While the physical damage was relatively minimal, the incident has had a significant emotional impact on members of Park City's small, tight-knit Jewish community. This distress is particularly acute as Yom Kippur, considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism, is scheduled to begin at sundown this coming Sunday.
Temple President June Volk described her reaction to the vandalism as "disheartening, saddening." Volk detailed that the individuals responsible had removed the Star of David and physically altered multiple letters on the sign that welcomes people to Temple Har Shalom. Despite the targeted nature of the damage, Volk indicated her belief that the act may not have been extensively planned, suggesting that "it seems like it was a crime of opportunity."
Upon the news of the vandalism reaching the wider community, there was an overwhelmingly positive outpouring of support and comments, according to Volk. She expressed that this demonstration of solidarity was "very comforting. To me and our leadership," highlighting the strong community values in Park City. Volk stated that such acts are contrary to local principles, emphasizing, "This is not the way we live in Park City." She further articulated that the community "stand up against hate and antisemitism."
Detectives with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office have launched an investigation into the incident. The office is actively searching for the person or persons who committed the crime. Sgt. Skyler Talbot, representing the Sheriff's Office, affirmed the institution's commitment to ensuring the safety and respect of all community members. Talbot stated directly that the Sheriff’s Office expects "everyone in our community to feel safe and respected." He reiterated a clear stance against such actions, noting that they "simply won’t tolerate these sorts of criminal acts that has this undertone of discrimination." The Sheriff's Office seeks to repair this wrong by identifying those responsible.
The ongoing investigation by Summit County Sheriff’s Office detectives continues to seek information from the public. The timing of the vandalism, occurring just before the solemn observance of Yom Kippur, has added to the concern felt within the Park City Jewish community. Residents with any knowledge regarding the damage to the Temple Har Shalom sign are encouraged to contact Summit County sheriffs detectives to aid in their efforts to identify the culprits.