$25,000 reward offered for man who daubed swastika on Horwitz Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Dedicated staff at the Horwitz Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza in Philadelphia are asking the public for help in locating the person who vandalized the plaza earlier this year.

According to authorities, the vandalism occurred in January.

“Early Sunday morning, January 14, at around 1:30 a.m., a vandal painted a large swastika on the wall of the Holocaust Memorial Plaza,” said Eszter Kutas, executive director of the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation.

The Holocaust Memorial is located at the corner of 16th and Arch Streets near Love Park in the city center.

The Anti-Defamation League published data showing that there has been an increase in anti-Semitic incidents since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.

From October 7, 2023 to January 7, 2024, 554 cases of anti-Semitic vandalism were registered nationwide.

This represents an increase of 31% compared to the same period a year ago.

In this incident, the suspect is seen wearing a ski mask, but officers hope his clothing will aid in identification.

“He was wearing a dark jacket, perhaps brown with a white stripe on it, and he was also wearing black pants and black shoes,” authorities said.

Construction contractor David Adelman is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

All you have to do is call the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS. All calls remain anonymous.

Adelman is personally affected by this act of vandalism. The square is named after his business partner and his grandfather, who survived the Holocaust.

“What we really need is for the general public not only to stand by us in solidarity, but also to take action,” he said.

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