By Jeff Lipton
A passerby discovered the anti-Semitic graffiti scrawled on a vinyl fence outside the Oceanside Jewish Center, at 2860 Brower Ave., detectives said. While police officers were investigating that incident, they found a second swastika painted on the entrance sign at Temple Avodah, at 3050 Oceanside Road, not far from the OJC.
The black swastika painted on the Jewish center¹s fence measured more than two feet in height and caused about $400 in damage to the fence, officials said. The swastika at the temple, also spray-painted black, caused about $200 in damage to its sign, police said.
The incidents are being investigated as a bias crime by the 4th Squad in conjunction with the Nassau County Police Department¹s Bias Squad. The symbols were sprayed on the buildings¹ property at about 8 p.m. on Sept. 4, police investigators said, adding that they believe the same vandal or vandals are responsible for both incidents.
³We¹re checking out all avenues,² said Detective Lt. Larry Feffer, 4th Squad commander. ³We haven¹t eliminated any group [as suspects] yet.
³Particularly in light of the High Holy Days, this is extremely sensitive,² Feffer added. ³We have spoken to the religious leaders, and they are quite a bit dismayed at the events that have transpired and are very appreciative of our efforts ... Hopefully, we¹ll be able to bring this to a successful conclusion.²
Leonard Lerner, executive director of the OJC, said he felt ³anger and disgust² over the incident. ³It just brings home memories of the Holocaust,² said Lerner. ³And it [reminds us] that there¹s still so much anti-Semitism around. I just hope they catch them.²
Rabbi Mark Greenspan, spiritual leader at the OJC, said this type of anti-Semitic incident is common around the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, which this year began at sundown on Wednesday and will end next weekend. ³Several events that took place last week in other communities have emboldened [vandals] to do this over here,² said Greenspan, adding that this is the first time in his 10 years as spiritual leader of the OJC that anti-Semitic graffiti has been scrawled on the property.
³It¹s just a horrible thing, and we¹re very upset that someone went around targeting synagogues,² Greenspan added. ³It was not just an act of vandalism, and it¹s not just against Jews. It¹s against anyone who believes in tolerance and the core values of our country.²
The graffiti is particularly hurtful for Holocaust survivors and their children, and families of Holocaust victims, he said.
Greenspan said that religious leaders met with the local Interfaith Council after the incident, and were scheduled to meet with local high school social studies teachers on Monday to address ways they could discuss anti-Semitism with their students. He explained that the culprit or culprits usually fail to realize that the swastika is a symbol that represents the deaths of a third of the world¹s Jewish population during World War II.
Rabbi Uri Goren, spiritual leader of Temple Avodah, said the graffiti is a surefire sign that society has not gotten beyond the hatred and bigotry that existed durinWorld War II. ³What I know for sure is that the Jewish and non-Jewish community in Oceanside are not afraid, just sad,² Goren said. ³We are very sad that there are people that do not understand how important it is for all of us to not only respect each other but to live together in peace.²
Addressing the vandal or vandals, Goren added, ³You should know that violence, intolerance and racism will never solve anyone¹s problems,² and that the large number of calls and e-mails he and Greenspan have received ³only go to show that a swastika is a repugnant symbol that has no place in our community of Oceanside. The damage to the sign can always be fixed. I pray that the damaged souls of those who commit these acts can also be fixed.²
Assemblyman Robert Barra (R-Lynbrook) also expressed his disgust with the incidents in his district. ³Unfortunately, there are those who choose to use this time of year to spew their hatred, venom and ignorance,² Barra said. ³... The sight of swastikas painted on these sacrosanct premises is not only vile for the pain and dread it engenders, it is quite literally a criminal act.²
He added that in 2005, he helped author a law making hate crimes a felony, punishable by up to four years in prison. ³We, as a society, can accept no less than the full weight of our government in sending a clear message to purveyors of hate that these crimes will simply not be tolerated,² Barra said. ³Offenses targeted against any group of people are an offense against all fair-minded citizens.²
Detectives urged anyone with information to call the 4th Squad at (516) 573-6452 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
