Something unexpected intruded on “my” Friday. I expected to focus on getting the last few items submitted to access a federal grant toward the new building renovation project for SNAP senior center, monitoring that day’s hearing on what I call the congestion pricing tax, visiting TD Bank to deposit donations to Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council (NEQJCC)earmarked for the a special People4Peace research project and devoting much of the early afternoon visiting my mom at Parker Jewish Institute. Late that morning, the Rabbi for Bellerose Jewish Center left a message and before I can return his call, a detective from my local police precinct called to advise of graffiti vandalism perpetrated to the synagogue and its former sanctuary building that SNAP acquired to redevelop as a senior center and main space for its senior services program. Despite the graffiti messaging and that the scrawl was on a synagogue and former synagogue building, the police advised it would be investigated only as vandalism, not as a hate crime; I objected and told the police regardless of the content of the message, any graffiti vandalism involving a house of worship must be classified as a hate crime.

I told the Rabbi my inclination to also report the incident to our local elected officials and the Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC). I shared not being aware of any such vandalism going back more than two decades when NEQJCC and QJCC collaborated on the second of two statements condemning Antisemitic vandalism.

I also called QJCC Executive Director Rabbi Mayer Waxman who I met when I managed an Assembly special election 14 years ago; I was particularly happy when he advised a few years ago of his taking on his position at QJCC, which I saved from extinction some two dozen years ago. And I texted fellow NEQJCC officers Jeff Berzon who was a former BJC member and my daughter Marisa. I also advised SNAP CEO Paola Miceli

I started to compose the following email in anticipation of Rabbi Bovit emailing me the photos of the vandalism to Congressman Tom Suozzi, State Senator Toby Stavisky, Assembly Member Ed Braunstein, Queens Borough President Donovan Richard and City Council Member Linda Lee:

“I write both at chair of the board of SNAP (Services Now for Adult Persons, Inc) and executive chair of the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council (NEQJCC).

I learned late this morning that a hate crime was perpetrated in Floral Park.

Rabbi Menashe Bovit of Bellerose Jewish Center called and his called was followed by a call from Police Officer Epps at the 105th that “Jews for Gaza” was scrawled on the former BJC Sanctuary building now owned by SNAP and awaiting resumption of its renovation into a state-of-the-art senior center, and “Free Palestine” was was scrawled opposite on the side of the Bellerose Jewish Center Building.

Photos shared by Rabbi Bovit follow below.

Officer Epps advised the NYPD is not currently classifying these hateful messages as hate crimes. They should be and I advised him as such. Indeed, 1986 Local Law 13 which I helped pass when I served as counsel/chief of staff to the then City Council Member should indeed apply.

All New Yorkers should find these acts offensive and outrageous. I am certain the vandals did not know that SNAP owns one of the buildings. The vandalism was discovered just ahead of the Jewish Sabbath.

Please call on the NYPD to classify and investigate these acts as Hate Crimes.

Also would appreciate tapping into Council Member Lee’s program to remove the hateful messaging

If you wish to hold any event today or after Shabbat, I will work with you on that.

I also informed my Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council treasurer Jeff Berzon who is a former BJC president and secretary Marisa Bearak who is Assistant Director at American Jewish Committee/NY Region, Rabbi Mayer Waxman at Queens Jewish Community Council and the board members of SNAP.

Thank you.”

The Rabbi had called a local paper and a reporter called me.

The Precinct commanding officer subsequently called and I made clear to Captain Sony Beauvoir my concern that the vandalism must be investigated as a hate crime. 

I spoke several times with the Assemblymember and also communicated with Senator Stavisky and the Council member’s chief of staff who advised the location would be fast-tracked for graffiti removal. Some of the communications occurred while I visited with mom.

Later the Assemblymember advised that three NYPD captains visited the scene of the crime and advised the investigation would proceed as a hate crime.

Incidents like this help explain my commitment to People4Peace and the research project (See image upper left.) we seek to fund to improve messaging to the 18-29 year-old demographic in the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attack of Israel and its aftermath (Please contact me if you have interest in supporting this as we seek to activate matching funds committed if raise another $4,000.).