Lonnie Nasatir, head of the Jewish United Fund Chicago, acknowledged tensions are high in the Middle East, which has led to local protests. However, he says the hate crime was an act of intimidation.
"This was clearly not freedom of speech, this went right into actually a real assault, and quite frankly, a terrorist act on a religious place of worship," he said.
At a recent protest in Skokie, approximately 20 pro-Palestinian protesters hurled anti-Israel remarks, according to the Anti-Defamation League of the Midwest.
As the Israeli–Palestinian conflict continues in the Middle East, Nasatir says now should be a time for healing.