Vandals target Messianic synagogue in Springfield, Mo.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - Vandals damaged a Springfield Synagogue.

The vandals shattered windows and ripped a sign from the front of the Children of Jacob Messianic Jewish Synagogue, located near Seminole and Fremont. Messianic Judaism is a modern practice of Christianity blended with elements of Judaism.

When Messianic Rabbi Jeffery Friedman went to work Tuesday morning, he found shattered glass and other damage left behind by those vandals. He says seeing things like this hurt, though he’s not surprised.

“Not unexpected,” said Rabbi Friedman. “A little disappointed, but not unexpected.”

When he says when he saw the damaged windows, he thought it was just another instance of kids being kids, a situation they run into quite a bit until he looked a little harder.

“I didn’t think much of it,” said Rabbi Friedman. “But then, when I found the signs, it was obviously more than that. Even a little graffiti I would have questioned but this was ripped off a brick wall and dragged halfway down the block. So at that point, I thought this was perhaps a little bit more than just simple kids doing vandalism.”

The synagogue takes security seriously. Members of the congregation are armed with concealed weapons permits along with panic buttons to alert police if they need to. He also says they’ll install more outdoor cameras after the damage. But after all that’s happened, he says his congregation has been receiving an outpouring of support.

“We have received emails, texts, Facebook messaging, all offering support, encouragement, very moving,” said Rabbi Friedman. “It elicits an emotional reaction that people do care. We should never feel that we’re alone. Because people do care about us.”

The Springfield Police Department confirmed an investigation is underway. It asks anyone with information to come forward.

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com