Jewish community gathers to celebrate Hanukkah amid vandalism of local menorahs

The NYPD has since alerted their hate crimes unit and the investigation is ongoing.

Phil Taitt and Adolfo Carrion

Dec 8, 2023, 1:40 AM

Updated 365 days ago

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As members of the Jewish community come together to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, residents are sounding the alarm on two menorahs that were vandalized in Sunset Park.  
Surveillance video shows one incident where a man riding on a bike stopped directly in front of the Fifth Avenue menorah and slammed it to the ground before biking away.  
At the center lawn near the children’s playground located on 44th Street and 6th Avenue, another menorah was broken and found 400 yards away.  
Rabbi Yanky from the Chabad of Sunset Park tells News 12 that this is the third year of them putting up the menorahs and that these incidents took place on the same day.  
“Come back say I’m sorry and show the world what it means to return to becoming a good person and ambassador of light,” said Rabbi Yanky.
The NYPD has since alerted their hate crimes unit and the investigation is ongoing.