Anti-Semitic Vandals Strike in Brooklyn

By Paul Berger November 11, 2011

Police have launched an investigation into an anti-Semitic arson attack in Brooklyn.

Three cars were torched early Friday morning and nearby vehicles were daubed with swastikas and “KKK” graffiti along Ocean Parkway in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Midwood, according to the website NYbuff.org.

Assemblyman Dov Hikind told VIN News that vandals painted “SS” insignias on nearby benches during the “shocking” attack.

The New York Police Department Hate Crimes Task Force is helping with the investigation.

Councilman David Greenfield offered a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the vandals. “I’m confident that these hateful people will be caught and punished to the full extent of the law,” Greenfield told NYBuff.

The Anti-Defamation League condemned the “shocking” incident and offered a reward of $4,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms these shocking acts of anti-Semitism,” said Ron Meier, the ADL’s New York regional director.

Anyone with information about the crime should contact the NYPD Crime Stopper tip phone line by calling (800) 577-TIPS, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and including the words “TIP577.”

Paul Berger was a staff writer at the Forward from 2011-2016, covering crime and healthcare issues, such as sex abuse, circumcision, and fraud. He is a fluent Russian speaker and has reported from Russia and Ukraine. He also likes digging into historical mysteries.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO