Chabad Menorah in Queens Toppled in Suspected Vandalism

Assemblyman David I. Weprin convened a gathering of religious and community leaders at 12:00pm Tuesday to denounce the suspected vandalism of a Menorah in Hollis Hills.

In attendance with Assemblyman Weprin were Senator John Liu, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, City Council Member Barry Grodenchik, Rabbi Yerachmiel Zalmanov, Rabbi David Wise, Rabbi Gary Greene, and Rabbi Mayer Waxman.

In the early evening of Saturday, November 27th, the large Menorah located on the traffic island at the intersection of Union Turnpike and 220th Street, was knocked into the road and most of its lights broken. Rabbi Zalmanov, the Chabad Shliach who erected the Menorah, reported the incident to the NYPD. A similar incident occurred in December 2014 at the same location, where the Menorah vandalized twice in the same month.

“Chanukah is a time of peace and joy. No acts of vandalism or anti-Semitism will ever be tolerated,” said Assemblyman David Weprin. “Each incident is dehumanizing and a repugnant stain on our community. We are watching. The hard-working members of law enforcement are watching. And this community – where we always have each other’s backs – is watching.”