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Fake Bomb Threat Called into NYC Synagogue

A person made a fake bomb threat made at an Upper East Side synagogue over the weekend, according to police.

At about 10:20 a.m., a person called 911 to make a bomb threat at the Park Avenue Synagogue on East 87th Street, according to police.

A subsequent search by NYPD officers turned up no threats or anything suspicious, officials said.

According to a police spokesperson, officers said they believe the call was fake, and perhaps a "prank."

No injuries were reported and an investigation remains ongoing, officials said.

Residents Support NYC Kosher Eatery After Hate Crime

New Yorkers flocked to a Midtown eatery after fears circulated that the kosher restaurant was vandalized in an antisemitic hate crime over the weekend.

Social media posts made the rounds on the internet claiming that Pita Grill Kosher— located on 57th Street and 2nd Avenue — became the latest target in an antisemitic hate crime; however, according to police sources, law-enforcement currently do not believe the restaurant was targeted due to the ongoing Middle Eastern Conflict but was instead a victim of a burglary on Nov. 25 in which two bikes were stolen.

The social media posts nonetheless spurred anxiety that the establishment’s glass door was smashed thanks to its ties to the Jewish faith.

Even though the crime was found not to be related to the Israel-Hamas war, New Yorkers from across the city descended upon Pita Grill Kosher in an effort to make one thing clear: hate has no place in the Big Apple. 

“That’s the beauty of the city,” shopper Allison Edan told amNewYork Metro after making her first visit to the storefront. “We need to stand up to this violence and realize that we are all one. It doesn’t matter what religion you are, what color, where you’re from, if you live in New York City, you live here because you want to be amongst people of every race and nationality.”

Many new patrons said they shared this sentiment as they yearned to support a business they worried was vandalized out of antisemitism.

“We live in a democracy, people shouldn’t feel scared because they’re kosher,” Ilana said. “I wouldn’t normally come here but I think it’s so horrible what people are doing and what they’re saying about Israel right now.”

Supporters of the business say that in light of the property damages and the concerns of a hate-fueled vandalism, they hope that several silver linings will emerge from the increased clientele.

“I would hope that they would get enough money to at least cover the damages. But I really hope it would raise awareness about antisemitism and violence,” Gary Goldenstein said. “We should all have cooler heads.”

Another shopper, also named Allison, shared that she believes by doing something as small as backing a business that has been victimized will help show support to those who have been harmed.

“There’s so much division right now and I’m sure that the owners of this store did not do anything wrong. I just want to stand on the side of innocent people who are being hurt,” Allison said. 

Investigations Underway in Canada after Jewish Centre and School Targeted

Montreal police are investigating after an incendiary object was allegedly thrown against the door of a Jewish community centre early Monday morning, hours after two federal MPs attended a meeting inside the building.

The Jewish Community Council of Montreal said in a statement that its building in the Cote-des-Neiges neighbourhood was hit with a Molotov cocktail shortly after midnight. The incident is the latest in a series of attacks against Montreal’s Jewish community since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October.

“Thank G-d, no one was present, and minimal damages occurred,” wrote Rabi Saul Emanuel, the council’s executive director. The rise in antisemitism in our city is frightening, and the repeated violence and attacks on our community are abhorrent and condemned in the strongest terms.”

Liberal MPs Anthony Housefather and Rachel Bendayan said on X – formerly Twitter – that the incident happened hours after they had met at the centre to discuss a federal program that provides funding and other support for communities at risk of hate-motivated crimes.

“The fear is real and we will be there to support the security of the community,” Bendayan said.

At 12:15 a.m. on Monday, Housefather posted to X a photo of the meeting at the office of the Jewish Community Council.

Montreal police media relations officer Julien Levesque said emergency responders were called at about 1 a.m. after an incendiary device was thrown at the door of a building in Cote-des-Neiges. Levesque says firefighters transferred the investigation to the police’s arson squad, adding that no one was injured and there was only minor damage.

“It’s a continuation of the shocking behaviour of some unknown people at this time. We presume it may be the same people who have done this, an act of hate against the Jewish community. And, this is deliberate, very deliberate. Take a look at the building, you will not see any Jewish insignia, that would indicate that this is a Jewish institution. People have to know that this is a Jewish location. This is a target, a sad target that has been chosen, ” said Henry Topas, the Quebec Regional Director for B’nai Brith Canada.

The SPVM also confirmed that they are investigating vandalism committed at a school in Ville Saint-Laurent.

On Saturday afternoon, the director of the Maïmonide School contacted police after finding graffiti and a poster on the school’s property.

The SPVM has opened an investigation and it will likely be treated as a hate crimes, Levesque said.

The events are the latest in a series of crimes that have left the city’s Jewish community on edge since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Between October 7 and November 21, 2023, Montreal police say there have been 107 reported hate incidents or crimes against the Jewish community, including 39 crimes on properties. Two other Jewish schools had gunshots fired at them, and a West Island synagogue and Jewish organization were also the targets of Molotov cocktails. 35 hate incidents or crimes were reported from the Arabic-Muslim community.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante promised on Monday that police were working hard to track down the culprits of the two most recent incidents against the Jewish community, and reiterated her support for a community that is “once again plunged into worry.”

“Montreal is a city of peace and inclusion,” she wrote on X. “It must remain so and we’ll make sure of it.”

Emanuel said members of the Jewish community have been calling for more funding to increase security in the wake of the deadly Hamas attack on Oct. 7. “We reiterate our belief that more funding is needed,” he said Monday.

“I have been in contact with the SPVM and the community constantly, and the SPVM does seem to be doing a good job in terms of communicating with the community and making sure that their security needs are being met. But as we see, this is the fifth incident in three weeks, and clearly there is a lack when it comes to security,” said Elisabeth Prass, the MNA with the Quebec Liberal Party for the D’Arcy-McGee riding.

‘Gas the Jews’ Graffiti Scrawled Inside NYC Bus

An antisemitic vandal scrawled “Gas the Jews” inside an MTA bus in Queens Wednesday, a vile act that has been referred to the NYPD’s hate crimes unit for investigation, The Post has learned.

Commuter Talea Wufka, who is Jewish, saw the hateful message inscribed on the back seat of the Q49 bus that runs through East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.

The shaken and offended passenger, 52, took a phone snap of the hateful graffiti and forwarded it to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The bus was then immediately withdrawn from service so the grafitti could be removed, according to the MTA.

Wufka also reported the incident to the NYPD after consulting with her Democratic District leader, Hiram Monserrate.

“Why so much hate?  I just can’t understand it,” Wufka said in a statement provided to The Post.

Monserrate said: “This incident impacted Ms. Wufka greatly and she was understandably distraught. We see hatred and confusion on our televisions every day.

“There is no room for antisemitism or hate of any kind in our community.  We will never tolerate this; we will call it out and we will always strongly stand against it,” added Monserrate, a former state senator and councilman.

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He noted when he was a police officer, he was assigned to quell riots against Jewish people in Crown Heights in the 1990s.

Both the MTA and the NYPD said they immediately responded to the complaint.

“I can confirm Bus #4208 was in service eastbound at Broadway and 74th Street in Jackson Heights when it was reported to the bus operator by a passenger that there was inappropriate graffiti on the rear seat,” said MTA spokesman Tim Minton.

“The report was verified by the operator, who relayed it to the transit bus command center, which directed the bus be immediately removed from passenger service so the vandalized seat could be cleaned. Approximately 10 riders on the vandalized bus transferred to the next following bus to continue their trips.”

An NYPD spokesperson added: “The Hate Crime Task Force was notified of the incident. There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.”

The Q49 bus runs through neighborhoods with sizable populations of both Jewish and Muslim people.

Both the Jackson Heights Jewish Center and the Congregation Tifereth Israel of Jackson Heights synagogue are served by the bus route.

The antisemitic incident comes as tensions reach a fevered pitch over the Hamas-Israel war in the Middle East, which has triggered a dramatic increase in hate crimes against Jews and Muslims, and numerous pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protests, including disruptions Thursday of the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Illinois Kosher Pizzeria Vandalized with Swastika

The owner of a north suburban kosher pizzeria said he won't be deterred by vandals after an employee discovered a disturbing symbol drawn on the window of his shop.

"One of my workers was back here, cleaning the tables from last night, Saturday night," said EJ's Pizzeria owner Moises Wajchman. "She noticed in the window, the heart with the swastika."

Skokie police said they responded to the restaurant on Gross Point Road, where the vandal used a sharp object and black marker to tag the front window of the business.

On Sunday night, the police department is investigating the incident as a hate crime. Wajchman, who is Jewish, believes this was a targeted attack.

"It's trying to make us feel unsafe and scared to be open, but we won't. We will be open, and we'll continue stronger," Wajchman said.

The vandal was caught approaching the business on surveillance video. Wajchman said it happened on Thanksgiving, less than half an hour after the shop closed for the holiday.

"As he's walking out, you see in the video, he puts his head down," Wajchman said.

The act of vandalism happened as many in the Jewish community have been sharing concerns over a rise in hate crimes amid the Israel-Hamas war.

"Everybody walking around the streets feel like they have to always keep an eye out and feel unsafe walking around, because they are afraid of what could happen to them, because they're Jewish. It shouldn't be like that," Wajchman said.

Wajchman has a message to the vandal: Hate won't win here.

"My message to him is the exact opposite of what he's trying to do. If he's trying to divide us, that only makes us get closer and together, like, everybody. So, if anything, he's not doing his purpose," Wajchman said. "We're all together. We're not going to go anywhere. We're here to stay."

Texas U Graduate Sparks Outrage With Swastika Armband

An incident involving a 25-year-old resident from Plano, identified as Barry Young, recently came to light. He sparked outrage online for allegedly engaging in antisemitic activities. Young, a graduate of Texas State University, was reportedly seen holding antisemitic signage and wearing a Swastika armband while standing outside a synagogue.

According to StopAntisemites on Twitter, the individual is reportedly associated with the Goyim Defense League (GDL) and operates on the social media platform GAB under the name 'Baby Face.'

As per Barry Young's LinkedIn profile, he works as a Salesperson at Sherwin Williams. His professional background also includes an internship at the political consulting firm Macias Strategies, where he was involved in organizing, fact-checking, and editing web pages. He also collected information using internet databases and interacted with clients and volunteers.

A picture of him wearing the Swastika armband is now doing the rounds on the internet and it has left many social media users outraged. It is also worth noting that this adds to the growing concern about a surge in antisemitic activities globally.

Earlier, on October 8, Barry Young was allegedly spotted standing alongside neo-Nazi Ronald Murray outside the Cathedral of Hope. He was reportedly seen throwing up a Hitler salute while holding up antisemitic imagery, as per @StopAntisemites on X.

Several social media users took to the comments section of @StopAntisemites' Twitter post and reacted to the picture of Barry Young by calling him "disgusting." People also tagged Sherwin Williams, where Barry is currently working as per his LinkedIn account, and asked the organization to sack him immediately.

University of Florida's Chabad Center Vandalized with Antisemitic Messages

The Chabad UF Jewish Student Center was vandalized early Friday morning with “antisemitic graffiti and hateful slurs,” according to a news release from the organization.

The vandalism has been reported to police, and Chabad UF plans to increase its security protocols.

“This is an attempt to intimidate us and the proud Jewish Life and learning Chabad UF provides to the students and community,” the release said. “We will not be cowed by hate, but will in fact double our efforts to strengthen Judaism, advocate for Israel and continue to bring light and joy to the UF, SFC and Gainesville communities.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call GPD at 352-955-1818 and notify Rabbi Berl Goldman at 352-336-5877.

New York Teenagers Continue to Attack Orthodox Jews

Antisemitism is heating up in the quiet Brooklyn neighborhood of Flatbush, home to a large Orthodox Jewish community.

This past Shabbat afternoon (Nov. 25), there were three separate antisemitic attacks on Jews, all of them in the very heart of the neighborhood, perpetrated by three young punks wearing what appeared to be sweatsuits in white, red, and black/white.

The first incident took place at around 4 pm, on East 17th Street between Avenues J and K. The thugs yelled “Free Palestine!” before punching and kicking the victim.

The “Free Palestine” shout made it clear the assault was not a simple mugging: no, this was a brazen antisemitic hate crime.

The second physical assault took place a few minutes later, not far away, on East 18th Street between Avenues K and L. The second attacker kicked his victim but said nothing, however, which may be used later to mitigate the case in court if the suspects are caught.

The third attack took place on Avenue L and East 17th Street, not far from the Edward R. Murrow public high school. This attack also involved a physical assault (punching and kicking) and was irrefutably antisemitic, with the attackers again yelling “Free Palestine!”

It is clear from videos posted on social media and the body language of this little gang that they were out hunting Jews.

New York City Councilmember Kalman Yeger commented in a sarcastic tweet, “Guarantee that assaulting Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn won’t ‘free Palestine.’ NYPD Hate Crimes, NYPD 70 Pct and Flatbush Shomrim are hunting for these junior jihadis. They’ll be caught,” he added.

All three incidents are under investigation by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force.

Kanye West and Chris Brown Caught Raping Antisemitic Lyrics

“How I’m antisemitic? I just f–ked a Jewish bitch.” Kanye West and Chris Brown spotted dancing and rapping in a private party

Kanye West and Chris Brown are facing public outrage for dancing and hyping an antisemitic track. The controversy unfolds amidst relationship issues with Bianca Censori and Kanye's comeback track "Vultures." Both the celebrities were called ‘trash’ and ‘disgusting’ for mocking the community through the song’s lyrics.

Recovering from career setbacks caused by antisemitic remarks, Kanye West released a new song called Vultures with Ty Dolla $ign on November 18. The rapper looked excited as he rapped along to his newest song in a widely circulated social media video alongside Chris Brown. The lyrics go by “How I’m antisemitic? I just f–ked a Jewish bitch.”

Apart from the American singer, songwriter, rapper, and one of the most successful R&B artists, Chris Brown, other artists in attendance were Ty, Bump J, and more. The video posted online went viral in no time, sparking widespread criticism from the audience, who condemned it as 'absolutely disgusting' and 'trash.'"

Jewish businesswoman Tanya Zuckerbrot taking to her X account wrote “What’s more sickening? The lyrics … Or the fact that both Kanye West and @chrisbrownofficial find it hysterical?”. Backing the comment other user wrote “Let the record industry chew on this. Let them never EVER work again,”.

Kanye West's career took a major turn for the worse after an unusual visit to Alex Jones's Infowars talk show. He expressed admiration for Hitler during the conversation and made disparaging remarks against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The controversial personality faced cancellation around a year ago after his contracts with Adidas and Balenciaga were terminated. But, Ye didn’t stop from accepting and repeating what he did. He also had his Twitter and Instagram accounts suspended. West's agency ended up canceling him for his antisemitic outbursts, and the MRC-produced documentary was shelved.

Queens High School Teacher Hides as Radical Students Riot

Hundreds of “radicalized” kids rampaged through the halls of a Queens high school this week for nearly two hours after they discovered a teacher had attended a pro-Israel rally — forcing the terrified educator to hide in a locked office as the teen mob tried to push its way into her classroom.

The mayhem at Hillcrest High School in Jamaica unfolded shortly after 11 a.m. Monday in what students called a pre-planned protest over the teacher’s Facebook profile photo showing her at a pro-Israel rally on Queens Oct. 9 holding a poster saying, “I stand with Israel.”

Hundreds of kids flooded into hallways and ran amok, chanting, jumping, shouting, and waving Palestinian flags or banners. Many tried to barge into the teacher’s classroom despite school staffers blocking their entry.

School administrators and the NYPD, which responded to the school at about 11:20 am, got wind of their plans just in time to rush the teacher into an office and lock the door, another educator said.

Students recorded the commotion, posting multiple videos, some set to pulsing Arabian music, on TikTok.

Clips showed a water fountain ripped out in the hallway and shattered tiles in the second-floor boys’ bathroom, which students admitted they vandalized.

The NYPD not only sent a couple dozen cops to restore order but tapped its counterterrorism bureau to investigate a possible threat against the school, according to City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Queens), citing officials.

Cops escorted the teacher safely out of the building.

The chaos and lockdown, which sources said lasted roughly two hours, was one of the most frightening incidents of antisemitism in New York schools and colleges since the Hamas massacre in Israel Oct. 7sparked the Jewish state’s war with Gaza.

It follows a massive, pro-Palestinian citywide walkout on Nov. 9 by some 700 NYC high school studentscalling for a ceasefire. Brooklyn students were captured on video yelling, “F–k the Jews!”

Pro Palestinian Agitators Create Chaos Outside of AIPAC President’s Home

Smoke bombs were apparently set off outside the home of the President of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Thursday. 

Video circulating on social media shows a group of around a dozen protestors holding what appear to be smoke bombs and blaring sirens in the street outside of Michael Tuchin’s Brentwood home on Thanksgiving day. 

The video, posted by the account StopAntisemitism, was taken by a woman shouting towards her father, who was trying to break up the demonstration, to avoid physical confrontation. 

At the end of the video, he was seen carrying an American flag towards the group. 

Another video posted by StopAntisemitism shows what appears to be fake blood and fake dead babies in Tuchin’s driveway. 

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers were dispatched to the 11900 block of Foxboro Drive around 10:45 a.m. Thursday after protestors “appeared…and caused a disturbance.”

“As soon as I look, I realize they were trashing my neighbor’s property and I tried to protect the property, letting them know it’s a private property — back up,” the man, who did not wish to be identified, said. “Unfortunately, they didn’t back up, so it got a little bit heated.”

Video of the incident shows the neighbor attempting to disperse the crowd but was instead hit by protestors in the back of his head. 

He said he refuses to cower to hatred, especially in his own neighborhood. 

“I think if we stay silent, it’s going to get worse and I won’t stay silent,” he said. “If I see someone using force, I will defend myself and defend my neighbor.”

Chief Moore confirmed early Friday afternoon that authorities are investigating the incident as a hate crime and that the department is collecting video evidence and other information to identify those responsible for “vandalism and assault on a neighbor.”

“It’s unfortunate that we’re reaching the end of the year, during the holiday season, where so many families are politically and religiously divided,” said Leslie Mayer, a neighbor. “Hopefully the splintering will come together in a healing way and not continue to drive people apart.”

Jacklin Tabesh, who lives close by, said she left Iran to escape religious persecution and is concerned to see what is happening in her own backyard. 

“We came here to have freedom, to live nicely, peacefully, but this is not right,” Tabesh said. “To see this, the whole thing, is very concerning for me. Why should this happen in America?”

Hamas Cheerleaders Vandalize Israeli Owned NYC Eatery

On Wednesday in New York City, anti-Israel protestors stormed the Israeli-owned Zizi restaurant in the Chelsea neighborhood. The radicals knocked over tables, threatened employees, and intimidated customers.

They painted a red triangle, a symbol of the Hamas terror group, on the Israeli flag mounted in the restaurant.

Police were called to investigate and customers had to be calmed and protected before they could safely leave.

“I’m in Israel on a visit and I can’t relax. I feel that my team is in danger and I don’t know how to help them,” said the owner of the Zizi restaurant, Maor Vanuno.

The attack at Zizi was just one of four recent antisemitic incidents at food establishments in the US.

The iconic 2nd Avenue Deli, which openly supports Israel and says it has donated part of its proceeds to  United Hatzalah, was vandalized with a swastika at its entrance.

At a bakery in New York City, windows were broken, and “Free Palestine” was spraypainted on the building.

Customers and employees at a Cleveland restaurant Israel 19 were caught in the middle of a Pro-Palestinian protest and were holed up in the establishment until it was safe to leave.

In addition, anti-Israel sentiment is coming from within the food industry.

Roughly 900 chefs around the world have signed a petition to boycott Israeli-owned restaurants and chefs who express support for Israel.

The petition, drafted by Hospitality for Humanity, calls for a boycott of Israeli restaurants, trips to Israel, and food events featuring Israeli dishes and chefs.

Some of the prominent food industry names who signed the petition include She Wolf Bakery, pastry chefs at the Wythe Hotel, Mason Harford of New Orleans’ Turkey and the Wolf, vegan celebrity chef Bryant Terry, New Yorker food reporter Helen Rosner, New York Times food columnist Samin Nosrat, host of Netflix food documentary “High on the Hog,” Stephen Satterfield and author of The Palestinian Table, Reem Kassis.

Iowa School Officials Apologize after Quoting Nazi in Morning Announcements

An administrative staff member accidentally posted a ‘Respect Quote of the Day’ before checking the source of the quote," Indianola Superintendent Ted Ihns wrote in the email.

"I first want to apologize for the oversight," Ihns added. "While it was completely unintentional, I understand that some of those who saw the quote and realized the source were offended."

In an email shared with the Des Moines Register, the Indianola Community School District apologized for using a quote by Heinrich Himmler — a high-ranking Nazi considered to be the architect of the Holocaust. The quote "My honor is my loyalty" was the "Respect Quote of the Day" that was shared over Indianola Middle School's public address system and in an email to families on Monday, KCCI reported.

The phrase was used in Nazi Germany by the Schutzstaffel or SS, the Nazi Party's paramilitary group, to show their loyalty to Adolf Hitler. The school district later apologized to families in an email, saying that a "staff member did not realize that the quote was from a highly inappropriate source."

"This morning (Nov. 20), an administrative staff member accidentally posted a Respect Quote of the Day before checking the source of the quote," Indianola Superintendent Ted Ihns wrote in the email.

"I first want to apologize for the oversight," Ihns added. "While it was completely unintentional, I understand that some of those who saw the quote and realized the source were offended."

Ihns said district officials plan to implement a new process for double-checking the quotes going forward. He did not give details on what the change would include.

Brooklyn Antisemite Arrested after Several Verbal Assault Incidents

The man who verbally harassed Jews in two antisemitic incidents this morning was arrested after being spotted by one of his victims in northern Crown Heights.

Shomrim volunteers responded to a call from one of the man’s victims that he had been spotted in the area. The volunteers responded and after a brief search located the man nearby. The NYPD was called and officers responded quickly to the location. He was arrested and charged with harassment as a hate crime.

As previously reported on CrownHeights.info, the man approached a Jewish father and son on Albany Ave between Park Pl and Bergen Street during the first incident, making threats of harm and saying antisemitic statements. The man never physically assaulted the two and left on foot from the location of the incident.

Both Shomrim and the NYPD were called but were unable to locate the perpetrator.

The second incident took place just minutes later on S. John’s Pl where police were notified of a male attempting to break into a building. When the police arrived they reviewed footage and watched as the man was confronted the building’s occupants, to whom he again made threats and anti-Semitic statements. The man also left the second location on foot.

Officers of the NYPD responding to the second incident were able to connect the two by the video footage at both locations, but despite a clear picture, were unable to locate the hate filled man.

With both police reports in hand, the cases were sent to the Hate Crimes Task Force who took on the investigation of the incidents.

Crown Heights Shomrim released footage from the incident and notified the community saying “This morning, in two separate incidents, this subject threatened Jewish kids with ‘physical harm’ [paraphrasing] R”L. Shomrim was called to one of the incidents and canvassed for him but to no avail. We are working with the NYPD and hate crimes task force in tracking him down.”

Brooklyn Museum Craft Fair Sells Merch Calling for Eradication of Israel

The Brooklyn Museum hosted a fair on Sunday that promoted the sale of “River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free” printed materials, an antisemitic slogan calling for the destruction of the Jewish state of Israel.

The same exhibitor at the Zine Fair also peddled another print item for sale that read, “From NYC to Gaza, globalize the intifada” and included an image of an NYPD vehicle on fire.

The museum, which is located on city-owned land, is the beneficiary of public funding and is near the headquarters of the international headquarters of the Hasidic Jewish Lubavitchers.

“It’s clearly hate speech. Everybody knows what ‘River to the Sea’ means. It means kill all the Jews and run Israel into the sea,” said Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, a pro-Israel activist and a former longtime trustee on the governing board of the City University of New York.

The event was sponsored by a not-for-profit artists group called Printed Matter, Inc..

An offended attendee took snaps of the provocative items and posted them on social media. “On November 19th at the Brooklyn Museum’s Printed Matter zine fair, I was verbally assaulted for being Jewish,” said Meryl Fontek, a New York native and Tel Aviv-based writer and editor, who saw the offensive material and put them on her Instagram account.

“I took out my phone to take a picture of the posters being sold. As soon as I did, the woman behind the table jumped out of her chair, pulled the black covid mask off her face, pointed her finger at me and yelled, `You don’t belong here.’ It happened so fast. She ran out from behind the table and said “You can’t dox me. I’m getting the organizer to have you removed,'” Fontek recalled.

“Do I not belong because she could recognize discomfort in my face when I saw the prints? It seems like it’s a crime to photograph violent antisemitic imagery that calls for Jewish genocide but creating it is acceptable. By collaborating with Printed Matter and the artists they work with, the Brooklyn Museum has legitimized the dissemination and selling of hateful, antisemitic, dangerous literature. I won’t stay silent when there’s a call to murder Jews,” Fontek said.

The Brooklyn Museum immediately sought to distance itself from what it called the “antisemitic” material displayed at its facility, in a note on its website.

“Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding materials displayed at Printed Matter’s Sunday Zine Fair. The Museum has worked very hard to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all people, a space of real belonging, and we are sorry that’s not what everyone experienced,” it wrote.

“Any anti-Semitic views expressed did not represent the views and values of the Brooklyn Museum. We want to be clear that we condemn hate, intolerance, or violence of any kind and are appalled by both the growing anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, as well as the divisions that are gripping the world. As a public institution, we are giving care to reviewing our policies while remaining committed to freedom of artistic expression and striving to create spaces for all to see themselves and others with dignity,” the museum added.

A Brooklyn Museum spokesperson clarified on Thursday that the one-day fair was unrelated to its fanzine exhibition.

“The works in question were displayed by a vendor as part of a one-day zine fair hosted and organized by the artist publishing non-profit Printed Matter. The Brooklyn Museum was not involved in the selection of the content and these zines were not a part of our current exhibition, `Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines,” spokesperson Lily Williams said.

“The anti-Semitic expressions included in the zines absolutely do not represent the views and values of the Brooklyn Museum. We condemn hate, intolerance, and violence of any kind and are appalled by the growing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and divisions that are gripping the world. We remain committed to creating a museum for all to see themselves and others with dignity,” the spokerserson, added.

The Brooklyn Museum has come under fire previously for promoting provocative art — notably a painting of the  “The Holy Virgin Mary ” splattered with elephant dung on the canvas in 1999, which triggered calls for a boycott from the Catholic League.

Wiesenfeld, for one, wasn’t buying the Brooklyn Museum’s explanation, pointing out that its curators vetted the exhibitors.

“You can’t hold a street fair in Forest Hills and sell guns,” he said.

“This print isn’t risque art. It’s hate speech calling for the extermination of Jews. The Brooklyn Museum has defined deviancy down,” he added.

Seattle Area Synagogue Vandalized with Antisemitic Graffiti

Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation in Mercer Island was vandalized with hateful, antisemitic graffiti. Mercer Island Police said synagogue members found the building had been defaced Wednesday morning.

“It’s horrific and heartbreaking,” Daniel Weiner, Rabbi of Temple de Hirsch Sinai Seattle Bellevue, said.

The advocacy organization fighting antisemitism - StopAntisemitism - posted a video of the hateful graffiti onto their “X” channel.

It’s the latest organization to be targeted after suspicious packages were sent to two Jewish organizations on the island.

The FBI sent KIRO 7 a statement saying, “FBI Seattle is aware of the incident and is communicating with Mercer Island Police regarding the details. We have offered assistance should it be necessary.”

Neither the City of Mercer Island nor the police department have not released an official statement about this incident.

New York Synagogue Targeted with Nazi Symbols

A swastika, a Star of David and a hammer and sickle were drawn on the door of a synagogue on the Upper West Side of Manhattan . The Israeli media reported it.

The graffiti was drawn on one of the doors of the Romemu Jewish community , which in a statement said that "these symbols of hate will not distract us from our mission of love, acceptance and understanding".

"The NYPD believes it knows who the perpetrator is and does not believe there is any specific threat from this individual," the community writes.

"Regardless, we are taking safety extremely seriously as always and are in close consultation with the NYPD and our safety team on best practices during this difficult time, and at all times, to maintain our community and our building safe,” the community note added.

Anti-Jewish Messages Found on Multiple Florida Businesses

Three Flagler Beach businesses were spray-painted with antisemitic messages over the weekend.

The Salty Turtle Gift Shop, the former Bank of America building across from the pier and the Dollar General on State Road 100 were vandalized between Saturday, Nov. 18, and Sunday, Nov. 19, with the variations of the phrase "Jew child killers." Flagler Beach Police Chief Matthew Doughney said police are looking for "a heavyset, possibly white male, wearing a black hoodie."

"If somebody knows who it is, hopefully they'll turn them in so that they can be held accountable for what they're doing, because it's just not right," Doughney said. 

Doughney said the "hate-tags" are related to the latest Israel-Hamas war.

"Vandalism is not something that happens frequently here," Doughney said. "But for it to be hate-tags is even worse."

Tomer Oshri, who owns the Salty Turtle Gift Shop on State Road 100, said his landlord notified him of the vandalism Monday morning. 

Oshri, who flies an Israeli flag outside his shop and has family in Israel, said this is the second time he has experienced antisemitism in Flagler Beach. 

Last year, he said, a man stood outside the Salty Turtle and yelled "slaughter all the Jews" in Arabic. 

Oshri said the police at the time said they could not do much because of free speech. He said the vandalism of his business over the weekend is "a direct impact from what's going on in Israel right now." 

"Americans need to wake up," Oshri said. "They will not scare us, and the flag is going to be still flying. I'm not going to remove the flag."