Multiple Jewish homes, a synagogue and a Jewish center in Queens — which contains a preschool — were vandalized with swastikas and other antisemitic graffiti overnight on Monday, leaving Jewish residents questioning their safety amid a spate of antisemitic incidents. 

“When rabbis and congregants arrived to pray this morning, they expected to be met with their usual loving community. When a family woke up, they were prepared to begin an otherwise normal week. Instead, they were met with terrifying signals of hatred and threats of violence,” New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, the city’s first Jewish council speaker, wrote on X. 

Menin, alongside Queens Councilmembers Lynn Schulman and Phil Wong, visited Congregation Machane Chodosh in Forest Hills, the impacted synagogue, on Monday morning. The Rego Park Jewish Center and two residential houses in Forest Hills were also targeted.  

The NYPD is searching for at least four individuals responsible for the vandalism, according to Menin. 

“With antisemitism on the rise here and across the globe, we will always stand up for our Jewish community and fight back against hate,” said Menin, adding that the graffiti will be removed once the NYPD completes its investigation.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement on Monday afternoon that he was “horrified and angered” by the vandalism, which he called “a deliberate act of antisemitic hatred meant to instill fear.”

“I stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors. Their safety, dignity, and belonging are non-negotiable,” Mamdani continued.

Gov. Kathy Hochul similarly condemned the “vile, targeted hate.”

Democratic state Assemblymember Sam Berger, who represents Queens’ nearby heavily Jewish neighborhood of Kew Gardens Hills, told JI that his grandparents, who are Holocaust survivors, “lived around the corner from this shul. It’s mortifying.”

“I have a Jewish community that is seriously questioning whether it is still welcome in this city,” said Berger. 

“One of the sites houses a pre-K program, where young children, their families, and staff were greeted with swastikas and other hateful vandalism,” said Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. 

“This is not normal,” said Treyger, “and we need city leaders to act now.”

Sydney Altfield, CEO of Teach Coalition — which oversees security grants for Congregation Machane Chodosh and most other synagogues and schools in the area — said in a statement, “Waking up to swastikas on a synagogue, homes, and a Jewish center that houses a preschool is not just vandalism, it is a direct act of intimidation against an entire community. We’re working closely with synagogue leadership and guiding next steps to protect families and strengthen security in the short term.”

“This is exactly why sustained investment in security for Jewish institutions is so critical. It also underscores how important it is not only to secure that funding but also to ensure institutions can access it,” Altfield continued.

In January, Queens played host to a pro-Hamas protest that caused nearby schools and a synagogue to close early, where dozens of masked protesters chanted “We support Hamas” near the synagogue.  

Political leaders in North Carolina are condemning the Nazi symbols and antisemitic graffiti discovered earlier this week at a hub of Jewish life in Charlotte.

Shalom Park, where the vandalism took place, is a manicured 54-acre campus that is home to a Jewish Community Center, Jewish federation, community foundation, two synagogues, a preschool, a school, a library and a day camp, among other Jewish services, including a dedicated multi-car security detail. Signs were posted around the park featuring a swastika and a noose with language encouraging people to join the Nazi party.

The incident was met with widespread condemnation from current and prospective statewide leaders. 

“These ugly, hate-filled images left in Charlotte’s Shalom Park are unacceptable. My heart goes out to the Jewish North Carolinians who had to bear witness to this hateful ignorance,” Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who is Jewish, told Jewish Insider. “Every person, regardless of religious background, deserves to live and worship without fear or intimidation. I am dedicated to doing everything I can to root out antisemitism in North Carolina.” 

Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) said in a statement to JI, “Antisemitism has no place in our state. The vandalism at the Charlotte JCC was a clear act of hate, but it will not silence our commitment to standing with the Jewish community. I am grateful to those who swiftly restored Shalom Park to its purpose as a place of peace and respect.”

On Thursday afternoon, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) posted on X, “It’s deeply disturbing to see hateful imagery like this in Charlotte. Antisemitism is unacceptable and has no place in North Carolina or anywhere in America. I stand with our Jewish neighbors in condemning this hatred wherever it appears.”

The two leading candidates in the race to replace Tillis, who is retiring, echoed his condemnation of the Nazi imagery.

“This was a deplorable act of hate meant to intimidate and scare our Jewish neighbors — it’s unacceptable and those responsible should be held accountable. My thoughts are with the families and children of the Charlotte Jewish community,” former Gov. Roy Cooper, the expected Democratic nominee in the state’s high-profile Senate race, told JI.

“Antisemitism continues to rise across the country and it’s on all of us to root out antisemitism in all of its forms,” Cooper added. “I’ve fought against antisemitism and hate throughout my career and would continue working to keep all North Carolinians safe as U.S. senator.”

Michael Whatley, the likely GOP nominee in the race to succeed Tillis, told JI, “The antisemitic materials and Nazi imagery found at Shalom Park are vile and unacceptable. Antisemitism has no place in Charlotte or anywhere in America. We stand with the Jewish community and condemn this cowardly act in the strongest terms.”

Shalom Park has primarily been financed through the Leon Levine Foundation, whose president also spoke out following the incident.

“While this moment demonstrates that there are still pockets of hate in our community, it does not define who we are. In response, friends, neighbors, and allies have come together in a powerful show of solidarity,” Tom Lawrence, president and CEO of the foundation, said in a statement to JI. 

“We are deeply grateful to our many Jewish community partners who have met this moment with clarity of voice and action,” he added. “We are confident that our Jewish community is taking all appropriate measures to remain safe while continuing to engage joyfully and openly in Jewish life, learning, and celebration.”

Rep. Dave Taylor (R-OH) blamed “vandalism” and requested a Capitol Police investigation after a flag showing a swastika overlaid onto the American flag was spotted in a staff member’s cubicle during a virtual meeting.

The flag was pinned up on the wall of the staffer’s cubicle alongside various other memorabilia, including a copy of the U.S. Constitution and a congressional calendar. The incident was first reported by local Ohio news outlet The Rooster.

“I am aware of an image that appears to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol near an employee in my office,” Taylor said in a statement issued Wednesday. “The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms. Upon learning of this matter, I immediately directed a thorough investigation alongside Capitol Police, which remains ongoing. No further comment will be provided until it has been completed.”

An email inquiry to the Capitol Police’s public information office returned an automatic reply stating that the office is closed until the end of the current government shutdown.

Taylor is a first-term lawmaker representing much of southern Ohio. The staffer in question, whose involvement in the incident is at this point unknown, has served as a legislative correspondent for Taylor since January.

“As a Jewish community we are concerned when any symbol of hate — especially a swastika — is found in the halls of Congress,” Howie Beigelman, the CEO of the Ohio Jewish Communities, told Jewish Insider. “Congressman Taylor has been a good friend to the Jewish community since his election. He’s reached out to us to convey his anger that a swastika was in his office as well as his concern for how this will impact the Jewish community across Ohio and nationally. We hope that wherever this investigation leads, he and his team will take any necessary & appropriate action.”

The discovery comes a day after a Politico report about a group chat in which leaders of Young Republican groups across the country praised Adolf Hitler, joked about the Holocaust and discussed putting political opponents in gas chambers, as well as expressed racist sentiments and supported rape.

This story was updated on Wednesday evening to include the comments of Ohio Jewish Communities’ CEO Howie Beigelman.

Several key Minnesota political leaders across the ideological spectrum condemned the vandalism of a synagogue in Minneapolis on Wednesday as an act of antisemitism.

Temple Israel, which had been vandalized previously, was spray-painted with the message “watch out Zionists” as well as red triangles — a symbol used by Hamas to mark Israeli targets.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) told Jewish Insider, “This is an unacceptable act of antisemitism that must be unequivocally condemned. After a summer marked by political violence in our state, we must all stand up, speak out, and act to combat hate.”

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) told JI that the vandalism “was a horrific thing for the congregants of Temple Israel and the Jewish community in Minneapolis to have to experience.” 

“We need to call out these brazen acts of antisemitism and come together to make sure our friends and neighbors know they are safe and supported,” she continued.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, running in a competitive race for reelection, said, “This morning, Temple Israel woke up to anti-Semitic threats — a reminder that hate still tries to find a foothold. It won’t find one here. Minneapolis stands with our Jewish neighbors. Hiding behind hate to spread fear against any religion is cowardly and unacceptable in our city.”

Frey’s primary challenger, state Sen. Omar Fateh, said in a statement to JI, “Anti-Semitism has no place in our city, and the hate speech found at Temple Israel this morning is unacceptable. Minneapolis cannot and will not tolerate violence against our communities, and we stand with our Jewish neighbors.”

Fateh has staked out anti-Israel positions, and some of his associates have endorsed the Oct. 7 attack.

Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), who is running for Senate, said that the incident was “alarming and unacceptable. And it’s a sobering reminder that antisemitism is on the rise.”

“This is not who we are as Minnesotans. We must stand with our Jewish neighbors in the face of this blatant antisemitism and reject all hatred in our communities,” Craig continued.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is also running for Senate, described the vandalism as “anti-Semitic hate.”

“My heart is with the congregants of Temple Israel and our entire Jewish community. Hate has no home in Minnesota, and every house of worship should be a safe place to pray,” she continued. “Hate attacks against all faith communities have reached historic highs, and Minnesota is not an exception.”

She went on to highlight the recent shooting at Minneapolis’ Annunciation Catholic Church, a fire and break-in at an Islamic center and attacks on the Somali community.

“Threats, hate, and destruction don’t put us on a path to peace — they make us all less safe. In this moment, it is up to us to stand up against hate, lead with kindness, and find a way to draw all our communities closer,” Flanagan concluded.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who represents the district in which Temple Israel is located, did not respond to a request for comment and does not appear to have addressed the vandalism publicly.

Rev. Johnnie Moore, executive chairman of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has spent the past two weeks under “24/7 protection while evil wants to kill me,” he told attendees of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute’s annual National Jewish Retreat, held last week at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington. 

Moore was referring to some 50 anti-Israel demonstrators who have protested outside of his Northern Virginia home multiple times in recent weeks — making death threats and painting graffiti.  

“Johnnie Moore is a war criminal … We will remain on the streets, outside these criminals’ homes, until the siege on Gaza is lifted, until aid is allowed in, until we see an arms embargo against the zionist entity, and until all of Palestine is liberated, from the river to the sea,” the Palestinian Youth Movement wrote Saturday on social media, following its most recent demonstration outside of the entrance gates of Moore’s Prince William County neighborhood, about 30 miles outside of D.C.  

Graffiti and signs near Moore’s home on Saturday read, “Johnnie Moore Kills Palestinians For $$$,” “Johnnie Moore Kills Babies” and “Your Neighbor is a Genocider Johnnie Moore.” Moore told Jewish Insider he has also received “two credible death threats,” which are currently under investigation, adding that police have “done an extraordinary job taking it seriously” and made one arrest for destruction of property. 

The group has also protested outside the nearby home of John Acree, the interim executive director of the GHF. 

“I never thought that it would be so life-threatening to do something so obviously right,” Moore told supporters of JLI, an educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, at a VIP reception Thursday night, referring to his work with GHF. 

“If they’re doing this to try and force us to quit, in fact it’s going to have the exact opposite effect because every attack, every threat, every lie is only more proof that what we’re doing is right and it’s essential,” Moore, a member of President Donald Trump’s evangelical advisory committee, told JI. “These profane efforts to stop us from saving lives only makes us more determined to save lives,” said Moore, adding that he views the attacks as “domestic terrorism.” 

“I believe some things are simple, like when Hamas opposes you, it means you’re probably doing the right thing, whatever the secretary-general of the United Nations thinks about it,” he continued, a reference to the U.N.’s calls for the dismantling of GHF.  

GHF has faced mounting criticism in recent weeks — including from some pro-Israel American Jews — amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Recent reports have claimed that since GHF took over aid distribution in May, with backing from the United States and Israel, Palestinians have been crushed in crowds and killed by live ammunition while waiting for aid. The IDF has admitted to firing warning shots near the aid sites. 

Last month, Moore called reports of civilian casualties at GHF’s aid sites overblown but acknowledged that “there have been some civilian casualties of people trying to get to our distribution sites  — [which] the IDF has said it is responsible for, but we think that’s a relatively small number of people, [although] one person is too much.” 

Moore also spoke at the reception about the partnership between Jews and Christians, which he said “fundamentally comes down to a simple fact — your book is also our book.”

“Your values are our values. Your heroes are our heroes. I stand here today as a Christian blessed because of Israel. Blessed because of the Jewish people because the Bible we love and cherish as Christians is a Jewish book. Your care for the Hebrew Bible, the diligence, reverence of your scribes throughout the centuries, changed our lives.” 

Moore continued, “I’ve been trying to do everything I possibly can — and I don’t know another evangelical leader that isn’t trying to do the same —  [to] fight antisemitism when it rears its head, making sure that the hostages remain a bipartisan issue in the United States.” 

In introductory remarks, Rabbi Hesh Epstein, chairman of the National Jewish Retreat and director of Chabad of South Carolina, called Moore “an international leader and advisor on religious freedom.” The reception also featured remarks from former Israeli hostage Or Levy, who was held by Hamas in Gaza for 491 days after being kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival where his wife, Einav, was killed. 

Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations that have engulfed San Francisco’s streets this week took an antisemitic turn on Monday night when a local Jewish-owned civic engagement hub and community space had its windows smashed and walls defaced with slurs including “Die Zio,” “The Only Good Settler is a Dead One,” “Death 2 Israel is a Promise” and “Intifada.” 

“There is no justification for attacking me other than the fact that I am Jewish,” Manny Yekutiel, owner of the Mission District event space Manny’s, which is in disrepair following the vandalism and break-in, told Jewish Insider. “My business is not a pro-Israel business. I am not Israeli. This is not a space that represents Israel in any way.”

The space was also the target of antisemitic graffiti in October around the one year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks. The most recent attack is currently being investigated as a hate crime. 

In the Bay Area, over 150 people were arrested on Sunday and Monday following protests against President Donald Trump’s travel ban, latest immigration policies and ICE raids. Similar protests spread across the country — including in Los Angeles where 4,000 National Guard members and 700 U.S. Marines were deployed on Monday. 

Yekutiel believes the protests against ICE are “necessary” because ongoing deportations are “stoking hatred” and “we need to stand with immigrants.” While Yekutiel says he will continue identifying with left-wing causes, he also said the attack on his business makes the protests concerning for Jews.

The attack on Manny’s “undermines the very values such movements claim to uphold” such as “justice and welcome the stranger,” the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area said in a statement.

Monday’s vandalism in San Francisco comes as the Jewish community faces an “elevated threat” following a surge of violent antisemitic attacks across the country in recent weeks, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security warned last week. Last month, two Israeli Embassy employees were killed in a shooting in Washington. Days later in Boulder, Colo., 15 people advocating for the release of hostages in Gaza were injured in a firebombing by an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa in the U.S. 

Trump announced his travel ban — which bars nationals of 12 countries from entering the U.S. — last week following the Boulder attack.

“The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas,” Trump said. “We don’t want them.”

Columbia University’s administration has launched an investigation — together with law enforcement — to identify the perpetrators of an act of vandalism on Wednesday in which anti-Israel demonstrators clogged the sewage system in the School of International and Public Affairs building with cement and sprayed the business school with red paint.

Columbia defined the spray-painting as an “act of vandalism” in a Wednesday statement, adding that the graffiti “included disturbing, personal attacks.” It said it was “acting swiftly to address this misconduct” and “to identify the individual perpetrators and address their actions.” 

“The university has done a better job [responding to antisemitic incidents] compared to in the past year, but at the same time, the actions of these perpetrators has gotten a lot worse,” a second-year graduate student in SIPA who requested to remain anonymous told Jewish Insider. “This went from antisemitic vitriol to cementing toilets and causing staff to be there overnight scrubbing fecal matter out of the toilets.” 

In a Wednesday night email to SIPA students, the school’s dean, Keren Yarhi-Milo, wrote that the women’s restrooms on four floors of the building were “vandalized with a cement-like substance causing the toilets to clog.” The walls of the 15th floor restroom were also spray-painted, as was the business school’s Kravis Hall, according to the email.

The Columbia Spectator reported that the graffiti included the phrase “Keren eat Weiner,” a reference to Yarhi-Milo and Rebecca Weiner, the NYPD’s deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, as well as “5.3.2018-1.29.2024 Hind called we must answer” and “Im scared please help – HIND AGE 6,” a reference to Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl killed during the war in Gaza.

In April of last year, at the start of the illegal anti-Israel encampment movement, protesters occupied Hamilton Hall and unfurled a banner that read “Hind’s Hall,” announcing that they had renamed the building in her honor. New York City Resists with Gaza, Columbia University Apartheid Divest and Students for Justice in Palestine claimed responsibility for the vandalism in a social media post. 

Columbia’s response comes as the university has reacted more quickly to  antisemitism in recent weeks — a sharp contrast compared to what lawmakers and Jewish students and faculty have called a slow, or nonexistent, response to the frequent antisemitism occurring on campus since the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. Last week, the university suspended a university affiliate for participation in a masked demonstration in which four people barged into a History of Modern Israel class, banged on drums, chanted “free Palestine” and distributed posters to students that read “CRUSH ZIONISM” with a boot over the Star of David.  

Columbia’s Office of Student Affairs also mandated on Wednesday that a SIPA group chat, intended to distribute campus-related information to students, be restricted to “administrator-only” mode after several incidents of students espousing antisemitic rhetoric in conversations, a student familiar with the situation told JI. 

“We have been monitoring the chats closely and while the discussions are warranted, we have been mandated by the OSA to pause all cohort group chats temporarily till we convene to find a resolution to the ongoing discussions. … I would urge everyone to reflect on how we can reinforce civility in our discourse as we navigate this,” an administrator wrote in one cohort chat, according to messages obtained by JI.

The SIPA graduate student described antisemitic rhetoric in the students’ chat to JI as “a constant stream of pretty outrageous messages.” 

“It quickly devolved into the same two or three students from our cohort invoking the Holocaust,” he said. “OSA is getting the handcuffs on these [perpetrators] more quickly than they were last year.” 

Asked whether the perpetrators of Wednesday’s vandalism would be suspended or expelled once identified, a spokesperson for Columbia told JI that the university won’t comment further.