On Feb. 10, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged David Denton, a 44-year-old unhoused man, for allegedly committing a hate crime, following an incident of vandalism at Berkeley Hillel, UC Berkeley’s Jewish student center. A security guard witnessed Denton light a Jewish Mezuzah scroll on fire outside of Berkeley Hillel on Feb. 6, according to Berkeley Police officer Byron White. A Jewish mezuzah is a casing placed on a doorpost that holds a small scroll of parchment called a k’laf containing handwritten torah verses. The mezuzah distinguishes Jewish homes as a visible sign of Jewish identity. In an email, Rabbi Adam Naftalin-Kelman, Executive Director of Berkeley Hillel, said he was thankful Hillel was able to continue with its normal activities despite the incident. Read more through the link in bio. ✍️: Casey Chang 📸: James Bitner . . . #ucberkeley #dailycal #berkeley #berkeleyhillel #berkeleypolicedepartment