Brooklyn Is ‘The Jerusalem Of America’: BP Adams and Community Swiftly Respond To Alleged Menorah Vandalism

Yesterday, Rabbis from Park Slope and Prospect Heights, Borough President Eric Adams, and neighbors gathered at the Lincoln Playground in Park Slope to light the Hanukkah menorah and condemn what they deemed an act of vandalism during the eight-day holiday.

On Tuesday morning, Rabbi Mendy Hecht of the Chabad Jewish Center of Prospect Heights found the menorah at Underhill Playground turned and slanted in its base, and the menorah at Park Slope’s Lincoln Playground with one of its arms ripped off and the wiring cut, according to the Rabbi.

Other local menorahs such as the Largest Menorah ceremony at Grand Army Plaza as well as the 5th Avenue menorah located outside of J.J. Byrne Park have not experienced any vandalism.

Both the Rabbi and Borough Park President Eric Adams denounced the downed menorahs as an act of hate and vandalism during Chanukah celebration. The incident is currently under NYPD investigation.

“Hate is expressed in many ways, it can be expressed in the UN that voted against Jerusalem being the capital of the Jewish state of Israel,” said Rabbi Hecht, calling attention to an October UN resolution naming Jerusalem’s Temple Mount and Western Wall an exclusively Muslim holy site.

In another UN resolution passed earlier this week, UN Security Council condemned controversial Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and occupied West Bank.

“For 2,000 years we celebrate the Jewish people lighting the menorah at Temple Mount. So we have an act of hate in the UN and an act of hate in Park Slope and Prospect Heights,” said Hecht. “Each expression of hate has to be answered by what? By light. By lighting the menorah. By adding in goodness and kindness.”

“Brooklyn has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. We are the Jerusalem of America,” said Borough President Eric Adams.  “An attack on one faith is an attack on all of our faiths. The destruction of this menorah isn’t a symbol of Brooklyn, the relighting of this menorah is a symbol of Brooklyn.”

A crowd of neighbors gathered at the playground on Lincoln Place between 5th and 6th Avenue, some holding signs condemning acts of hatred.

“We’re going through rough times nationally, and locally we must have compassion for each other. We’re all human,” said longtime Park Slope resident and community activist Robin Tilem.

Tilem supports the effort to bring more menorahs to playgrounds, where kids can see the symbol and ask questions about diversity and culture. “[This event] is an opportunity to come together. It’s a symbol to show kids, especially in New York City where we are diverse,” she said.

“It’s like Michelle Obama says,” added Tilem’s family friend and lifelong Park Slope resident. “‘When they go low, we go high.'”

Additional reporting by Donny Levit.