Vandalism at Tenafly Synagogue Under Investigation After Israeli Flag is Burned
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Tenafly NJ, a hate crime investigation is underway in Tenafly, New Jersey, after an Israeli flag was found burned outside Temple Sinai of Bergen County. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, September 16, has sent a shockwave through the local community, especially as it happened just days before the start of the Jewish High Holy Days.
According to synagogue officials, the flag had been flying for about two years alongside an American flag and a Jewish Gay Pride flag. The other two flags and the rest of the property were left untouched, indicating the act was a targeted one.
A Targeted Act and a Community on Alert
Tenafly Police are investigating the incident, and the temple’s security company has been placed on high alert. Temple Sinai officials and the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey have announced a heightened police and private security presence in the area in the lead-up to the Rosh Hashanah holiday.
Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna called the act “foolish antisemitism” and encouraged the synagogue to remain resilient. “My advice to the rabbi was to buy more Israeli flags and more cameras to catch the people who do hateful and stupid things,” Zinna said. “We can’t allow ourselves to be afraid.”
Rabbi Jordan Millstein, the temple’s spiritual leader, expressed his anger over the incident, calling it a “clear act of vandalism.” He stated that the act of flying an Israeli flag is an expression of Jewish pride and that the synagogue “will not be intimidated by this and we will put up another flag.”
Antisemitism in New Jersey: A Disturbing Trend
The incident at Temple Sinai is part of a broader, disturbing trend. A recent report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that while antisemitic incidents in New Jersey declined slightly last year, the 719 recorded incidents still represent the second-highest total ever.
Jason Shames, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, noted a “tremendous uptick” in hate speech and incidents throughout northern New Jersey, including death threats and threatening behavior. He argues for stronger consequences to deter such actions. The incident in Tenafly serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Jewish communities and the ongoing need for vigilance and solidarity.
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Cameras everywhere over there, this shouldn’t take long.