The Birmingham Jewish Federation learned recently that the sign at a Birmingham area church was vandalized to communicate an anti-Semitic message. The letters on the sign of Mount Signal Baptist Church in Chelsea were rearranged to read "Jews suck."

A woman driving by the church saw the sign and stopped. When she saw letters scattered on the ground she realized it was an act of vandalism and called the Shelby County sheriff's department.

The Shelby County Reporter did a story on the incident and quoted the church's pastor, Leonard Irvin. "It just kind of disturbed us. We are Christians and have theological differences with the Jewish faith, but we are rooted in the Jewish faith," he said. "We are not a hate group, not anti-Semitic. We do not consider them (Jews) as enemies; we consider them as friends. We respect the Jewish people."

Pastor Irvin quickly posted a new message on the church's sign: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you." He wanted those that may have seen the anti-Semitic message to know that "those weren't our feelings."

In response to the incident, The BJF's Director of Community Relations Joyce Spielberger wrote Pastor Irvin a letter on behalf of The BJF's Jewish Community Relations Coalition. "I wanted to reach out to you in light of the recent incident at your church," wrote Joyce. "Although the message left on your sign was not intended toward your church, it nevertheless was one of hate and we appreciate your quick and thoughtful response."

"Unfortunately, anti-Semitism and acts of hate toward minority religious groups are still very much part of our societal landscape, but it is comforting to know that we have faith partners who also teach...respect for the beliefs of others," added Joyce.

The BJF's Jewish Community Relations Coalition serves as a resource and bridge to the broader community. For more information on The Coalition, contact Joyce at joyces@bjf.org or 205-879-0416. Funding for The Coalition comes from The BJF Annual Campaign. We commend Mount Signal Baptist Church and Pastor Irvin for their quick and forthright response, and for turning "bad into good," something we at The BJF always try to do when such troublesome incidents occur.

Speaking of turning "bad into good," people in Bergen County, NJ, are trying to do just that in the wake of a series of anti-Semitic incidents including the firebombing of a rabbi's home. The Bergen County situation was featured in Sunday's BJF Update.

"The firebombing that was meant to divide and terrorize has instead brought together a diverse coalition to renounce bigotry," reported New Jersey's Star-Ledger in a story on an interfaith gathering in the wake of the incident.

"The support has touched Rabbi Nosson Schuman, who burned his hand when someone threw five Molotov cocktails through the second-floor window of Congregation Beth El in Rutherford, which doubles as his home," the story added.

The Anti-Defamation League, one of the 32 agencies and programs funded by The Birmingham Jewish Federation Annual Campaign, has been involved in responding to the Bergen County incidents including offering a reward to help find the perpetrators.

Photo is of Rabbi Nosson Schuman, joined by his family, addressing the interfaith gathering. (Photo by S.P. Sullivan, NJ.com)