The Kremlin in Moscow. Photo: Quistnix via Wikimedia Commons.

The “Limmud” Torah Study Center in Moscow was vandalized on Monday with anti-Semitic graffiti that read “This is a Zionists lair. Out!” local blog AsiaNews reported.

“These days, when all the synagogues in Russia are praying for the victims of the attack in Jerusalem, anti-Semitic incidents like these are especially painful for us,” said Mikhail Savin, head of the Russian Jewish Congress, referring to a brutal terror attack early last week in which Jewish worshippers were hacked and shot to death in a Jerusalem synagogue. “Their impunity inevitably causes new manifestations of ethnic and religious hatred.”

Savin reported the incident to the Russian news agency Interfax. He also urged the police to investigate the matter and “punish the vandals.”

Savin said the vandalism was the second anti-Jewish hate crime to take place this year following anti-Israel acts by nationalists during the Russian March on Nov. 4, also known as the Day of National Unity. On the day, Russian far right groups traditionally organize marches in cities across the country. This year, anti-Semitic posters were plastered on the porch of the local synagogue in Perm, the blog reported.

Until November there had been no attacks or vandalism reported this year, the Russian Jewish Congress spokesman revealed.