Rabbi Yisroel Ciner reads messages of support sent by a nearby Muslim group after an anti-Semitic attack on his synagogue.

“The comeback is always stronger than the setback,” remarks Ciner.

Samana Prenjee is a member of the group that donated the greeting cards.

“Basically when it does happen, it’s our job to extend our hand and show our support and be there for them so that they don’t feel alone," Prenjee explains.

As the rabbi walks into the sanctuary at Beth Jacob temple in Irvine, the pews are empty but his patience is on display.

Ciner is a methodical man of faith.

But recent hate crimes against the Jewish community in Orange County have tested the Rabbi’s perspective. A recent Orange County Human Relations report says that hate crimes are up 20 percent in the last two years.

“There will always be some angry, bitter people in the world and we need to make sure they don’t set the tone,” says Ciner.

The pictures of anti-Semitic graffiti and the echo of bomb threats are pertinent to the newsletter the Rabbi puts together every week - these incidents are reminders of why the synagogue was forced to implement security measures like a gate and guard after other threats made on Beth Jacob in recent years.

“We are the epitome of the other and when people are insecure and intolerant, they don’t deal with the other. And we’ve seen historically the horrific results of people who don’t want to accept,” the rabbi says.

But as he looks out on his empty sanctuary, thinking of his message, he says he reminds himself that it’s still a beautiful world.