Vandalized Jewish cemetery in University City rededicated
UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. — A Jewish cemetery near St. Louis has been rededicated nearly six months after it was vandalized.
Law enforcement is still working to determine if the tipping of more than 150 tombstones at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in University City in February was motivated by anti-Semitism. The attack drew national attention and Vice-President Mike Pence visited the cemetery along with Gov. Eric Greitens to assess the damage, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported .
The re-dedication Sunday came after months of fundraising, physical labour and the ongoing police investigation. Andrew Rehfeld, CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, told the crowd that despite not knowing the motive behind the vandalism, it’s still vandalism.
“I don’t think you can explain the reaction without referencing what is going on today,” he said. “And I believe it was due to a context of growing attacks that we were seeing first and foremost against the Jewish community.”