Staten Island Yeshivas Vandalized With Anti-Semitic Graffiti
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The NYPD Hate Crimes task force is investigating yet another act of antisemitism in the city.
Two Staten Island yeshivas were vandalized with messages of hate overnight on Harold Street.
The words "Synagogue of Satan" were painted on one of the yeshivas, and the acronym "SOS" on another yeshiva across the street.
#StatenIsland Shmira along with @NYPD121Pct & @NYPDHateCrimes were on scene at 11 o'clock in the morning at Yeshiva Neshivos Hatalmid and Yeshiva Zichron Paltiel on Harold St that were vandalized with #AntiSemitic messages. #StopAntisemitism #SayNoToHate pic.twitter.com/5Ql4bShWiH
— Staten Island Shmira (@SISPshmira) May 23, 2019
"I'm very upset," 15-year-old student Eli Gross said.
Rabbi Moshe Katzman runs the Chabad of Staten Island next door and said the mainly Hasidic community was ready to rally together if the recent string of hateful incidents in the city made it to their doorstep.
"I was waiting for something to happen because of the atmosphere that's going on in America," he told CBS2's Tara Jakeway. "The antisemitism is just going on a rampage out there, and no one is taking a stand."
#BOLO: This Suspect is wanted by @NYPDHateCrimes @nypd121pct for spraying hateful Anti-Semitic graffiti on 2 Yeshiva buildings. If Seen or have any information Call #800577Tips & #Shmira at 718-761-4444. #YourCityYourCall #LetsCatchHim #NoPlaceForHate @NYPDTips pic.twitter.com/U0dppj4nZF
— Staten Island Shmira (@SISPshmira) May 23, 2019
Shmira of Staten Island, a Jewish volunteer safety patrol, shared a surveillance video that captured the moment the vandal struck in the Manor Heights neighborhood late Wednesday night.
"I want these people to become better people, I want them to become better citizens. I don't need them punished as long as they behave properly," said Moshe.
"Don't do it ever again," Gross added.
MORE: City Council Speaker Corey Johnson Meets With Jewish Leaders In Wake Of Latest Anti-Semitic Incident
A group of Wagner College students on the way to class on Friday reflected on what the yeshiva students had to face on the way to theirs.
"It's just annoying to see people's ways of religion just being vandalized and not being respected," said Sebastian Jondecker.
Students told Jakeway they're exercising more caution on their walks to and from school.
The NYPD says anti-Semitic hate crimes in the city were up 82 percent over the first four months of 2019, compared to the same period last year.