The owner of a kosher market in Castor Gardens arrived at his shop last Thursday morning to discover hate symbols scrawled in red paint all over the front windows and on the back facade as well.
The vandalism occurred at Simon’s Kosher, 6926 Bustleton Ave., during the previous night or early morning hours, according to published reports, and included numerous swastikas similar to those used by the Nazis during the Holocaust.
Semion Rachshtut, who has operated the butcher shop and grocery store with his wife, Ella, for about 20 years, reportedly told the Jewish Exponent that he quickly removed the water-soluble paint after reporting the damage to police.
“Everything’s alright my friend, everything has been controlled. We cleaned up everything, don’t worry,” the owner said, according to the newspaper.
According to the shop’s website, the Rachshtuts opened their first kosher market in Kiev, Ukraine, in 1985 before relocating first to Israel and later to the United States. The shop opens at 7:30 a.m. daily, except Saturdays, and closes at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, according to the website. The shop remained open on Thursday despite the hate graffiti.
Police have made no arrests and have not identified any suspects. ••
