The video featured is from a previous report.
It happened around 8:10 a.m. on Friday in the 100 block of S. Independence Mall.
Police say a man wrote an anti-Semitic message on the OY/YO sculpture outside the Old City museum.
Video footage allegedly shows the man -- described as being between 50 and 60 years old, heavily tattooed and wearing a white tank top, khaki shorts and red/white Nike Air Jordans -- vandalising the statue before he enters the 5th Street SEPTA station down the southeast stairs.
The graffiti has since been removed, but community leaders say the damage goes beyond the physical.
This is the second time the museum has been vandalized in a year.
Andrew Goretsky, senior regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said the repeated targeting of the museum reflects a troubling trend.
"This is incredibly frustrating, but unfortunately not surprising," he said.
"Whether you're Jewish or not, I think people realize that we must stand out against hate in our community," said State Rep. Tarik Khan, who reported the incident to police. "We can't tolerate hate, and when we see something that's wrong, we have to stand up."
The latest incident comes nearly one year after another suspect spray-painted the museum's facade, plaza and an Israeli flag.
Goretsky said the broader rise in vandalism is alarming. He noted that in 2025, Pennsylvania recorded 80 incidents of vandalism, compared to 29 in 2022.
"As a Jewish community, we are not going to hide who we are, and we are going to continue to survive and thrive despite these targeted attacks," he said.
Goretsky outlined three steps he believes are essential to combating hate.
"We need leaders to be speaking out and condemning this behavior. We also need individuals to not sit on the sidelines. People need to be reporting it," he said. "And the last thing is, people need to educate themselves. There is a lot of disinformation and misinformation out there."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Central Detective Division at 215-686-3047/3048.