Am Shalom’s Oct. 7 tribute vandalized; local arrested and charged

A local resident is in custody for allegedly vandalizing an Israeli-hostage tribute in Glencoe on Monday night.

Glencoe Public Safety arrested a 32-year-old from Glencoe on Wednesday, Aug. 20, under a charge of disorderly conduct, according to a press release from the Village of Glencoe.

The release says that Glencoe Public Safety explored charging the arrestee with a hate crime but, after “an exhaustive investigation,” the department “is confident this case does not meet the requirements set by Illinois State statute for a hate crime,” the release says.

According to Glencoe Public Safety Director Sean Loughran, Glencoe Public Safety responded on Tuesday morning, Aug. 19, to a report of property damage at Am Shalom, 840 Vernon Ave., in Glencoe.

Authorities reportedly reviewed video that showed that around 10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18, an individual riding a bicycle approached Am Shalom’s property and then knocked over and displaced dozens of white wooden folding chairs that represented individuals who Hamas kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, in Israel.

Am Shalom established the tribute in response to the Oct. 7 attack. It originally featured 248 white chairs, each one representing a captive, fronted by a banner reading “Bring them home now.”

The tribute became a “sacred spot,” wrote Am Shalom Rabbi Steven Lowenstein in a Chicago Sun-Times guest essay.

“Our … chairs will stay up as long as they have to. It is our way to say to the world: We haven’t forgotten you. We never will,” Lowenstein wrote.

A social media post from Am Shalom following Monday’s incident says it was the congregation’s security system that recorded the vandalism and aided the police investigation.

In its release, Glencoe Public Safety credited Am Shalom for the cooperation during its investigation.

“The Public Safety Department truly appreciates the help of the Am Shalom community, especially their staff, the Glencoe business community, and our residents that supported and cooperated with officers during the investigation,” the release says. ” Because of the collaborative efforts of all involved, officers were able to locate evidence and identify the offender in our mission to support all those impacted by this truly unfortunate incident.”

Am Shalom’s Facebook post also says that while no property was damaged and the current display restored, the synagogue will develop a more permanent piece to “honor the hostages.”

Am Shalom, in the post, thanked the community for their support following the vandalism.

“The outpouring of support from our community has been incredibly uplifting. We are moved by the number of members and friends who have reached out from all parts of the world to check on the wellbeing of our community,” Am Shalom posted to Facebook.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.