Miriam, a longstanding Israeli restaurant in Park Slope, Brooklyn, fell victim to vandalism, marked by anti-Israel and antisemitic messaging over the past weekend. According to ABC7 New York, Rafael Hasid, the Israeli co-owner of Miriam, discovered that the front door of his establishment had been defaced with red paint, and graffiti slogans such as 'Israel steals culture' and 'Genocide Cuisine' were sprawled across the premises. The display of hatred was especially poignant as it surfaced just days before the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Surveillance footage captured figures tagging the exterior of Miriam's at around 3 a.m. this Sunday, the New York Police Department's Hate Crimes Task Force is now actively investigating the incident. Hasid expressed his thoughts in an interview with ABC7 New York, "We've been here 20 years and we are part of the neighborhood," emphasizing that the restaurant shouldn't be a target for those potentially agitated by geopolitical conflicts. "Don't think that everything people say is the truth. I hope they bring all the hostages back and there will be no more war ever again," he added, indicating a desire to see an end to the violence associated with his homeland.
Responses from local and state officials were swift, with Congressman Richie Torres, Mayor Eric Adams, and Senator Chuck Schumer all speaking out against the act of vandalism. Further support was evident in the local community, where customers such as Greta Gertler Gold and Shira Blatt expressed their disapproval and heartbreak over the incident. "This is our community, and my kids are Jewish, it breaks our heart," Blatt told ABC7 New York. It's evidence that such acts of hate tend to significantly ripple outward, affecting not only the direct victims but also the broader community woven into the fabric of neighborhoods like Park Slope.
The condemnation reached the state level as New York Attorney General Letitia James posted her sentiments on the issue. "Anyone who wrongfully targets and attacks innocent New Yorkers must be held accountable," she stated. Meanwhile, Mayor Adams assured the public on social media that the NYPD "is investigating and will find those responsible." Hasid, though shaken, maintained a resilient outlook, telling CBS News, "I am not afraid of people coming like thieves in the night and doing those things. I'm sure everything will be fine." As the investigation continues, heightened attention is given to scrutinizing more security footage in the hope of identifying the vandals.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage in Lower Manhattan will commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day with several events, including a special ceremony livestreamed from Poland marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. This act of vandalism underscores the urgency for such remembrance and the need for ongoing dialogue about hate crimes and antisemitism. The NYPD urges anyone with information on the vandalism to use the Crime Stoppers hotline to report any leads, and they stress that all calls are kept confidential, a reassurance to those who wish to help yet fear repercussions.
