On Dec. 3, a playground in Montclair, New Jersey was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas, hate speech and Nazi references. According to watchdog organization StopAntisemitism, the graffiti was “grotesque,” and prompted an immediate investigation to find the perpetrator of this hate crime.
Lt. Terence Turner of the Montclair Police Department told Arutz Sheva that seven different phrases were spray painted on the playground, including on the park gate and the slide. He shared that the incident is being taken seriously, and is the first incident of its kind that the town has experienced in recent memory.
“The images and phrases were removed by officers on scene with the assistance of the Department of Public Works,” the Montclair Police Department said in a statement.
On Dec. 6, Mayor Sean Spiller addressed the vandalism in his opening remarks at the Montclair Town Council meeting. “It’s troubling to us,” he stated. “We’re committed to doing all that we can to keep everyone safe in this community, and specifically those in the Jewish community.”
Mayor Spiller noted that while the crime is still being investigated, the Montclair Police Department has dispatched additional patrols to local synagogues and other areas. “This is an unfortunate part of a national trend that we’re seeing…This [hate] will not be tolerated here.”
The Orthodox community in Montclair is small, but Chabad maintains a strong presence under the leadership of Rabbi Yaacov Leaf and his wife Ita. In response to this troubling display of antisemitism, Rabbi Leaf shared with The Jewish Link that although community members are scared, it has been heartwarming to see the entire town of Montclair condemn the hatred.
“Everyone understands that this is a very serious matter, including law enforcement,” said Rabbi Leaf.
“It’s interesting that this is happening around Chanukah time, and that message should not be lost on us. Chanukah falls out during the time of year when the nights are longest and there is more darkness. During Chanukah, we are meant to go out and dispel the darkness, using our menorahs to brighten our surroundings. I encourage everyone to light their menorahs proudly this year. Our answer to these things should not be to cower or be afraid; rather, we should double down on our Jewishness and celebrate our Jewish identity with joy and light.”
Rabbi Leaf explained that this vandalism follows another antisemitic incident at a Montclair middle school back in October, where a Jewish girl was called by hateful slurs and some of her fellow students made Nazi salutes. The victim’s parents reported to Montclair Local that there are two ongoing HIB investigations related to this incident.
The antisemitic graffiti is being investigated by a department detective who is trained in hate crimes along with the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State Police, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Anyone with information about the perpetrator should contact Det. Paul Rusiniak at (973) 509-4776.
By Channa Fischer
