Anti-Defamation League Statement on Shooting at Synagogue

Date: October 29, 2009

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed deep concern about the shooting this morning at Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic synagogue in North Hollywood.

"While we have not confirmed the motive behind this horrendous act, we obviously take a shooting at a synagogue very seriously and ask for the community to contact LAPD or ADL with any information," said Amanda Susskind, Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League.

"We commend the Los Angeles Police Department for immediately committing resources to vigorously investigate this crime and for their continuing commitment to the protection of all religious institutions," said Susskind.

ADL is actively working with LAPD and the LA mayor's office. We have been told that law enforcement is stepping up patrols around Jewish communal institutions.

ADL issued a security bulletin to all Jewish institutions in its Pacific Southwest Region (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern and Riverside Counties) explaining that the situation is still unfolding, but we have no reason to believe that it is part of any larger plot or conspiracy.

"Statistics consistently show Jews to be far and away the most frequently targeted religious group, with 74 percent of hate crimes motivated by religion being perpetrated against Jews in Los Angeles County," said Susskind, citing the most recent Hate Crime Report of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations.

For further information visit ADL Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents.

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