A menorah in London has had its lights smashed in – just days after the mass shooting at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach.
Police have confirmed the incident in Muswell Hill is being treated as religiously aggravated criminal damage – but no arrests have yet been made.
Rabbi Boruch Altein from Crouch End Chabad, which put up the menorah, said: “This incident is saddening, but we’re not going to be intimidated and we will increase the light.”
The menorah will be fixed and relit on Sunday.
Police received the report on Thursday evening – four days after the Bondi Beach attack.
Rabbi Altein said the local Jewish community had been left heartbroken by the attack in Sydney.
“We’ve been heartened by the outpouring of support since, including a beautiful note and flowers placed by the Muswell Hill Menorah,” he said.
“We’re going to continue adding in goodness and kindness, and when good people join together we far outnumber the haters.”
A Jewish menorah in London has been vandalised just days after the Bondi Beach attack
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JASON GROVES
Local resident Jason Groves, a City of London councillor who grew up near the famous Sydney beach, said “it was particularly distressing to see an act so hate-filled close to home that soon after the atrocity in Australia”.”
“The light must always overcome the darkness,” he added.
Two other menorahs in London have also been targeted this month.
On Tuesday, police received reports of vandalism at two separate locations.
In Notting Hill, a painting of a menorah was defaced with white paint.
A menorah in Shepherd’s Bush was also damaged, leaving it unable to light up.
The Metropolitan Police is treating both incidents as religiously aggravated hate crimes.
The Community Security Trust, a charity protecting Jews from antisemitism and terrorism, condemned the attacks.
The CST called the vandalism “appalling and disgraceful, particularly in the wake of the horrific terror attack in Sydney where Jewish people were killed while celebrating Hanukkah”.
Supt Owen Renowden, the Metropolitan Police’s hate crime lead, acknowledged the strain on Jewish communities.
“This has been a tremendously difficult week for the Jewish community following the terror attack in Australia at the weekend, and I appreciate how these hate-crime incidents will cause further hurt and distress,” he said.
“We’re working closely with local partners including religious leaders and have put in place additional visible patrols.”
The CST added: “The story of Hanukkah is one of light and hope, and Jewish people should be free to celebrate this holiday without fear or hatred.”
Crouch End Chabad said they are working with police and the CST to establish what happened.