This past Shabbos, February 12, the Forest Hills Jewish community was victim to despicable and outrageous antisemitism when a Jewish-owned dental clinic located at 68-55 Harrow Street had its front window scrawled in black marker with hate-filled anti-Jewish language, “f*** Jews.” After being documented, police officers from New York Police Department’s 112th precinct removed the disturbing wording that had been reported by a local rabbi following Motzaei Shabbos prayers.
Council Member Lynn Schulman called on Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Joseph Cappelmann to take action. “There is no place for this disgusting antisemitic vandalism anywhere.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards wrote on social media, “There are no words to accurately describe how hideous and vile this is. Hate cannot be accepted anywhere, but especially not in the World’s Borough. If you spew antisemitism or hate in our borough, you will be caught. You will be prosecuted. You will never win.”
Congress Member Grace Meng, State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., State Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi, and Schulman issued a joint statement: “We will not tolerate this hate,” adding, “We stand united with our Jewish community.”
Mayor Eric Adams informed the public that NYPD Hate Crimes is investigating the incident, adding, “This would be disgusting anytime but it’s especially outrageous as we come to the end of Shabbos. We won’t let this vicious hatred go unanswered in our city.”
It appears that legislation is needed to effectively discourage vengeful graffiti and overall acts of hatred. In the meantime, it falls on each of us to encourage shared humanity, equality, and love for one another to defeat the ugly face of antisemitism.
