At the corner of Union Turnpike and 188th Street, Bagels & Co. is a staple for families in Fresh Meadows, Jamaica Estates, Hillcrest, Holliswood, and Hollis Hills. The establishment is recognizable for its chalav Yisrael menu, steady stream of customers, and the Israeli and American flags proudly displayed above its storefront. In recent years, however, those flags have appeared to place the storefront in the crosshairs of those seeking to intimidate visibly Jewish establishments.
In the early hours of Friday, May 22, on Shavuos, surveillance footage captured a disturbing act of vandalism at the storefront. The suspect, wearing a white robe-like garment, spent several minutes damaging the outdoor area, overturning tables and chairs, throwing potted plants, and hurling items toward the glass windows of the building before fleeing. No injuries were reported.
However, a breakdown in basic reporting has turned a concerning incident into a cautionary tale for the entire community. Speaking with an NYPD official, he made it clear that despite bystanders witnessing and recording the incident, not one person called 911 on Friday night. The store remained unvisited by law enforcement throughout the Yom Tov, and even after the shop reopened on Sunday, the silence persisted. Police finally responded on Tuesday—days later—only because a third party reported the incident.
“How can we expect the NYPD to do the job we demand if we do not do our part to inform them?” asked one officer familiar with the case.
If we are to protect our streets, we must commit to a fundamental protocol: Always call the authorities first. Whether it is a suspicious individual, an emotionally disturbed person, or an act of clear hate, the immediate phone call is the only mechanism that triggers an investigation. Call 911. Call Queens Shmira. Do not assume someone else has already reported it. By the time a third party intervenes days later, the trail is cold. Who is to say the perpetrator didn’t decide right then and there to move on to another store and brutalize that establishment, or chas v’shalom, target a resident? Immediate reporting is the only way to ensure the authorities have the chance to intervene before a situation escalates further.
The attack struck a painful chord because it is not the first time this venue has been targeted. On November 10, 2021, in the late afternoon, an individual entered the business, recorded the scene on his phone, and threatened to burn it down if the Israeli flags were not removed. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force investigated that incident, which served as an early warning that the shop’s outward display of identity had become a focal point for intimidation.
In both cases, the location carried unmistakable significance: a kosher business, openly displaying Israeli flags, on a heavily traveled Queens business corridor serving multiple Jewish neighborhoods.
That public presence matters. Union Turnpike connects communities where Jewish life – including shuls, schools, and kosher establishments – is highly visible. The flags signal both Jewish pride and American belonging. In the current climate, however, such symbols can attract hostility from those seeking to intimidate Jews and supporters of Israel.
The latest incident occurs against a backdrop of rising anxiety. Earlier this month, swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti were found at multiple locations in Forest Hills and Rego Park, including Congregation Machane Chodosh, the Rego Park Jewish Center, and private homes. Assemblymember David Weprin, who represents the region, coordinated with the 107th Precinct to increase security, citing these incidents and anticipated anti-Israel protests expected just up the block from the bagel store at 188th Street and Avon Road, outside the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates.
While those incidents occurred in different areas, they are part of a broader atmosphere being felt across Queens. A synagogue founded by Kristallnacht survivors, residential homes, and now a kosher storefront have become reminders that anti-Semitism is no longer limited to online rhetoric; it is reaching local blocks and familiar community spaces.
Citywide statistics underscore these concerns. Data cited by the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement indicates that anti-Semitic acts accounted for 78 of 143 confirmed hate crimes in New York City during the first three months of 2026. Furthermore, the American Jewish Committee reported a 182-percent increase in anti-Jewish incidents in January 2026 compared to the previous year. For residents, these statistics are felt when a synagogue is defaced, when a business owner must clean up vandalism before opening, and when a customer wonders whether it is safe to walk into a visibly Jewish storefront.
Yet the community reaction has been swift and resolute. The incident drew wide online attention, with at least 725 visible public comments across news coverage and social media reposts reviewed by this publication. Across the neighborhood, a clear message has emerged: One of the strongest actions people can take is to make a concerted effort to patronize the store, buy meals for their families, bring friends, and ensure that the business thrives despite the climate of intimidation. As one regular patron remarked to me at the store, “We must keep showing up proudly as Jews and as supportive non-Jews. Do not wait.”
Speaking on behalf of his fellow local clergymen, a neighborhood rabbi summarized the community’s collective resolve: “Our institutions and businesses will not be driven into the shadows by acts of cowardice. The response to hatred is greater visibility, deeper unity, and an unwavering commitment to support one another. Bagels & Co. should not have to choose between being visibly Jewish and being safe. In Queens, both must be protected.”
By Shabsie Saphirstein
