Sometime over fall break, the UNC-Charlotte Hillel succah was destroyed.

The bamboo coverings were stolen and the frame for the succah was deliberately bent and ruined beyond repair. The large sign decorated with a Star of David and with Hillel’s name (as well as contact emails for interested students) was defaced with a small, but legible comment: “F.U.”

The campus police have determined that the succah was damaged purposefully, and have declared this a hate crime.

Hillel students at UNC-Charlotte are cultivating and nurturing Jewish life with heart and courage. They deserve our support. To that end, as UNCC’s on-call rabbi, I will be meeting with students who need counseling over the next few days. Our congregation will continue to offer those students a congregational home.

Temple Or Olam is also mounting a fundraiser to replace UNCC Hillel’s succah. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at info@or-olam.org.

We must respond to acts of malevolence and hate by remaining an open, vibrant, and public presence for Judaism and Jewish community in our area. That, in fact, is our purpose. May we be strengthened in it.

Pray for peace,

Reb Barbara