Community condemns menorah vandalism in Hollis Hills
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | DEC. 10 - DEC. 16, 2021 5
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Northeast Queens lawmakers were
joined by religious and community
leaders in Hollis Hills on Tuesday, Nov.
30, to denounce the desecration of a
large menorah at the Chabad House
of Eastern Queens during the start of
Hanukkah.
State Assembly members David Weprin
and Nily Rozic, along with Senator
John Liu, Councilman Barry Grodenchik,
Rabbi Yerachmiel Zalmanov,
Rabbi David Wise, Rabbi Gary Greene
and Rabbi Mayer Waxman, gathered
at the traffic island at the intersection
of Union Turnpike and 220th Street
where the menorah was erected.
In the early evening of Saturday,
Nov. 27, the large menorah was knocked
into the road and most of its lights were
broken, according to Zalmanov, who
reported the incident to the NYPD.
“Hanukkah is a time of peace and
joy. No acts of vandalism or anti-Semitism
will ever be tolerated,” Weprin
said. “Each incident is dehumanizing
and a repugnant stain on our community.
We are watching. The hardworking
members of law enforcement
are watching. And this community
— where we always have each other’s
backs — is watching.”
While noting a previous anti-Semitic
incident that took place barely a
week ago at Bagels & Co. where a man
entered the establishment and threatened
the owner, staff and patrons, Liu
said they are compelled to once again
gather in defiance of yet another act of
intolerance.
“This vandalism occurred as New
Yorkers celebrated the first night of
Hanukkah stings all the more, but our
community will never waiver in our
determination to fight back against
hatred and division in any form,” Liu
said.
This isn’t the first time the large
menorah was vandalized. A similar
incident occurred twice in December
2014, when the menorah was torn down
and many of its bulbs were shattered.
Congresswoman Grace Meng condemned
the “despicable” act of vandalism
as the Jewish community
celebrates Hanukkah.
“There is no place anywhere in our
society for anti-Semitism and hate, particularly
here in Queens, where we welcome
and embrace the great diversity
throughout our borough. We will not
tolerate this disgusting and cowardly
behavior, and we must continue to call
out these crimes. Those responsible
must be held accountable,” Meng said.
Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed
by e-mail at cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–4526. Courtesy of Assemblyman David Weprin’s office
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