Officials: Menorah Burning Not a Hate Crime
The NYPD and FDNY are both now saying that the burning of a Chabad House Menorah in Kensington, Brooklyn doesn’t appear to be suspicious.
A 10-foot wooden menorah went up in flames Tuesday night at the Chabad Lubavitch synagogue on Ocean Parkway near Foster Avenue.
First responders say the call came in as a garbage fire, and that the building was empty at the time due to an ongoing construction project to expand the center.
Sources say cigarette butts were found in the debris near the menorah.
Before this incident, Jewish leaders for the Chabad Lubavitch synagogue say the menorah was a strong symbol in the community for 20 years.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating because of the nature of the incident.
Question
Why is a Chanukah menorah out on erev Rosh Hashanah?
Anonymous
its there the whole year
Milhouse
I’m not surprised at this. Most reports of “bias incidents” or “hate crimes” turn out not to be. They generally turn out to be either hoaxes, ordinary vandalism, insurance fraud, or just stam crimes for the usual motives.
Kensington
Btw the Chabad house is on 18th ave., not Foster!