Following an antisemitic vandalism incident over the weekend, the owner of Miriam, an Israeli restaurant in Brooklyn's Park Slope, expressed his resilience to Fox News Digital. Rafael Hasid believes the perpetrators achieved the "opposite of their intention" due to the widespread community support that followed.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident, which involved the phrases "Israel steals culture" and "Genocide cuisine" painted on the restaurant's exterior. Hasid reported an outpouring of support since the attack, highlighting the positive response from the community.
This isn't the first time Hasid's establishments have been targeted. His Upper West Side Miriam location was also vandalized in 2022. Early Sunday morning, three masked individuals were reportedly seen vandalizing the Brooklyn location.
Speaking on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Hasid reflected on the cyclical nature of hate, emphasizing the importance of understanding history to prevent similar incidents in the future. He stressed that hate is never productive and expressed hope for increased understanding and tolerance.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned the vandalism as a "despicable act of antisemitism" and assured the public that the NYPD is actively investigating to find those responsible. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Ritchie Torres visited Miriam to show their support. Schumer emphasized that such acts of hate have no place in New York, while Torres declared that hate crimes against any community are hate crimes against everyone.
The NYPD confirmed the ongoing investigation by the Hate Crimes Task Force, with no arrests made as of Monday morning.
