Photo by Síle Moloney
A white van spray painted in red with the words “Kill Jews” was seen on Jerome Avenue in Norwood on Tuesday, Nov. 7 [Election Day]. It is the second such display of antisemitic vandalism seen in the neighborhood in the space of about a week, and a month after the Hamas terrorist group attacked Southern Israel on Oct. 7, causing an immediate shelling and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israeli defense forces.
As reported at the time by Norwood News, and according to the latest reporting by NPR, Hamas attacked several communities in Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people and kidnapping around 240 people, some of whom have since been released. Since then, according to the news outlet, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 10,000 and mass protests have been held all over the world in the context of the crisis, with many across the world, including in the U.S., calling for a ceasefire to allow the lifting of a blockade along the Gaza frontier for urgent medical and food supplies.
Dr. Michael Ryan of the World Health Organization said on Oct. 26, “What’s unfolding in Gaza right now is a humanitarian and health catastrophe…the situation is beyond belief.” Ryan called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza so that “unhindered, unfettered humanitarian relief” can enter.
Meanwhile, the latest incidence of antisemitism in Norwood comes around a week after the front of a local Jewish Center, located on Bainbridge Avenue, was spray painted in black and purple with the words “Free Palestine,” as reported on Wednesday, Nov. 1, prompting immediate condemnation by local elected officials.
Photo by Síle Moloney
Meanwhile, the man who owned the white van is a street car washer who is Spanish speaking, and who was busy washing other cars when we spoke to him about the graffiti. Speaking in Spanish, he told us he did not see who had spray painted his van, and asked us what the words meant. When we translated, he appeared saddened and said, “I’m sorry. I’ll scrub it off.” The NYPD has been notified of the incident.
Further down the street was another street car washing site with another white van which had purple and black graffiti symbolism spray painted on it. We asked one of the men at the site if they knew what the graffiti meant. One elderly man said the symbols were gang related and were often seen spray painted in many areas. He specifically mentioned the area around LaGuardia airport.
“This a thing of gangs, from the schools,” the man said in Spanish. “If they got caught, they know they will be arrested.”
Image courtesy of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz
We asked if the purple and black graffiti was recently sprayed on the white van and the owner said no, that it had been sprayed on the van for about two months, the length of time he had been working in the area. There was no immediate indication that it was antisemitic graffiti.
Further down Jerome Avenue was a third van also painted with large graffiti initials. There was no indication that it was in any way antisemitic, and there was nobody at the van to ask for how long it had been painted like that.
A group of healthcare workers / Palestinian supporters gathered by City Hall in Manhattan on Friday evening, Nov. 3, to read out the names and pray for healthcare workers killed in Gaza since Oct. 8. Some wore scrubs and white lab coats, with one attendee (also dressed in scrubs) saying the rally had been organized by local healthcare workers.
To read our previous coverage on the local impact of the latest tensions in the Middle East, click here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, as well as the referenced recent op-ed.
Photo by Síle Moloney
For our previous coverage on similar attacks on Bronx synagogues and their aftermath, click here, here, here, and here.
For those wishing to donate to help humanitarian efforts in the region, UNICEF is coordinating aid for those affected by the conflict. Visit https://www.unicefusa.org/.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.
All calls are strictly confidential.