FBI Announces Reward for Information on Vandalized Gravestones at Jewish Cemeteries

CINCINNATI — The FBI announced Thursday a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest after gravestones were vandalized at Jewish cemeteries in the Cincinnati area.

The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati said it discovered 176 vandalized headstones at Tifereth Israel Cemetery and Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Cemetery Monday morning. The headstones were knocked over, some cracked in half. The organization estimates the damage occurred between June 25 and July 1.

In a statement, the FBI said anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call authorities at 513-421-4310 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The FBI is also asking anyone who may have been at either of the cemeteries, both located in the Covedale Cemetery complex in Green Township, during that time to come forward with any information about the condition in which they saw it.

We spoke to Rita Birch, who discovered her mother’s gravestone was one of those toppled earlier this week. Birch said her parents fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s to come to the United States.

“I don’t understand why people hate like they do,” she said.

Jewish Community Relations Council director Rabbi Ari Jun said there was no direct evidence that the vandalism was motivated by anti-Semitism, but noted that local incidents have increased in Cincinnati since the start of the war between Israel and Hamar in October 2023.

“This is probably one of the worst incidents we’ve seen in quite some time,” Jun said. “It comes in a year where we’ve seen some very serious anti-Semitic incidents.”

President Joe Biden spoke out Wednesday about the vandalism, calling it “despicable.”

“This is anti-Semitism and it is despicable,” the president continued. “I condemn these acts and I commit my administration to supporting investigators so that those responsible are brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Cincinnati FBI said it is working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division during its investigation.