After Vandalism, DeBlasio Attends Menorah Lighting

A Menorah that was vandalized twice in Manhattan’s Carl Shurz Park, which is the backyard of Gracie Mansion – the official residence of the New York City Mayor – was rededicated Monday night and was lit with Mayor Bill DeBlasio in attendance.

The Menorah, which was erected by Chabad of the Upper East Side and Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, was the centerpiece of a Sunday-night Chanukah celebration with as many as 1,000 people attended.

Over the cource of the last few days the Menorah was vandalized twice and the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the vandalism.

According to Rabbi Ben Tzion Krasnianski, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of the Upper East Side, the menorah, which was erected last Thursday, had been toppled over sometime on Shabbat, causing some minor damage to it. A passer-by apparently picked up the menorah shortly afterwards and set it upright.

The second toppling took place after Chanukah event on Sunday, which started at 6:30 p.m., and caused more serious damage to the menorah.

Rabbi Elie Weinstock of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun said the acts of vandalism were especially troubling. “This Chanukah event has had such incredible energy and spirit, as it has grown over the past eight years. To wake this morning to see such an act of darkness is obviously very upsetting. We won’t, however, let it stop us.”

Although event organizers had planned for just the Sunday-night menorah-lighting, a second lighting took place on Monday night as a direct response to the incidents with Mayor Bill DeBlasio in attendance.

“We’re celebrating our religious freedom,” stressed Krasnianski. “We want to show the world that the Jewish response to hate is to fight darkness by increasing in light and joy. What happened last night will only unite us, strengthen us and encourage us to do even more.”