Meanwhile, a sign seen on Sunday, April 25, in the window of the Riverdale Jewish Youth Library, which had shattered windows, read, “For security purposes, do not leave an unattended bag in front of this building.”

 

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Dinowitz, local assemblyman for the 81st A.D., the district in which the attacks took place, tweeted a message on Sunday in which he also condemned them, saying, “There have been repeated acts of vandalism against many Jewish institutions in Riverdale this past week.” He added, “We will not stand for acts of hatred against the Jewish community, or any community. Thank you to the @NYPD50Pct & NYPD for their hard work & swift response. More later.”

 

A short time later, Dinowitz, who is Jewish, issued a joint press release, once again, condemning the attacks, along with his son, newly elected councilman in District 11, Eric Dinowitz, who is also Jewish, as well as State. Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, who represents the 34th senatorial district, which covers parts of The Bronx and Westchester, and Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who represents the 16th congressional district, which also covers parts of the Bronx and Westchester. City Council District 11 incorporates Riverdale and Fieldston, two of the areas where the attacks took place.

The joint statement read, “Over the weekend we received the horrific news of a string of hate crimes and vandalism at four local synagogues and places of worship in Riverdale. Our teams have been in close communication with community leaders and the NYPD in order to work towards the physical and psychological safety of the community. We are proud to represent Riverdale — a neighborhood that is inclusive, accepting, and loving. The rise in hate crimes towards Jewish people is alarming and deeply painful to see. Hate has no place here.”

 

It continued, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the hate crimes and vandalism that are occurring in Riverdale. No one should be attacked or living in fear because of their race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. The threat towards synagogues and other Jewish institutions is real and we must treat these issues head on. Jewish people have been the victims of hate crimes and persecution for centuries, and this week’s events are a somber reminder that we must all be vigilant in weeding out antisemitism. Our hearts go out to everyone in our district who has been impacted by these hate crimes.”

 

The statement concluded, “Our offices are closely monitoring this situation. We thank Captain Emilio Melendez, all the NYPD investigators, the NYS Hate Crime Task Force, our colleagues in government and all the rabbis and community leaders who are involved in ensuring that justice is served. This is a true demonstration of unity and is an example of the resilience of Riverdale. We urge that anyone with relevant information reach out to the 50th precinct. If you see a crime being committed, call 911 immediately. We will continue to unite as a community to make sure it is loud and clear that hate has no place here.”

Councilman Dinowitz had previously spoken to the Norwood News about his work as a teacher in combatting anti-semitism in schools and in the local community, after swastikas were found painted on the school where he worked.

 

Meanwhile, last December, in efforts to push Assemblyman Dinowitz for support of the Housing Justice for All Rent Relief Package of 2020, members and supporters of the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) organized a caroling rally outside his home on Thursday, Dec. 17 during a Jewish holiday.

 

Although Dinowitz never appeared or addressed the protestors on the night in question, he took to Twitter the following morning, criticizing their tactics. “Having passed more pro-tenant bills than any Bronx assembly member this year, I appreciate your advocacy,” he said. “But, loudly demonstrating in front of my home as my family, and many of my neighbors were celebrating the final night of Chanukah [Jewish holiday] is incredibly culturally insensitive.”

 

Later on Sunday night, Dinowitz said the NYPD has recommended that Jewish institutions take additional precautions such as making sure all doors are closed and secured, as well as removing any potential projectiles from the immediate area around the building.

“You will see increased police presence, in particular NYPD foot patrols, around the temples and synagogues in the Riverdale area as well as other Jewish institutions,” he said. “These police officers are from a mobile force authorized by NYPD to supplement local precinct officers who are also actively searching for the man who did these hateful acts.”

 

He added, “If there are specific locations that you are concerned about which do not appear to have NYPD presence at them, please contact the Sector C (which covers Riverdale) Neighborhood Coordination Officers, PO Brandon Day (Brandon.Day@nypd.org) and PO Richard Planamenta (Richard.Planamenta@nypd.org), or call 50th Precinct Community Affairs at (718) 543-5978.”

There have been repeated acts of vandalism against many Jewish institutions in Riverdale this past week.

We will not stand for acts of hatred against the Jewish community, or any community.

Thank you to the @NYPD50Pct & NYPD for their hard work & swift response. More later.

— Jeffrey Dinowitz (@JeffreyDinowitz) April 25, 2021

 

Biaggi also issued a separate statement later on Sunday night, saying, “I want to extend my deepest condolences to the Jewish residents of Riverdale, and acknowledge the pain that these acts of vandalism and hate have caused for the entire Riverdale community.”

 

The senator said her office would continue to closely monitor the situation as it unfolds. She urged anyone with relevant information about the incidents to reach out to the 50th precinct at 718-543-5700, or email the Crime Prevention unit at ralph.cintron@nypd.org. She said that if people see a crime being committed, they should not get involved, and should instead call 911 immediately. “We will continue to unite as a community to make clear that hate has no place here,” she added.

 

Congressman Ritchie Torres, who represents the 15th congressional district in The Bronx and who is a vocal supporter of the Jewish community, also tweeted his condemnation of the attacks on Sunday, saying “No place for hate in The Bronx. We must combat anti-semitism, whenever and wherever it arises, especially when it takes the form of vandalism and violence.”

 

On April 16, Torres had addressed Congress, voicing his support for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. He said during his address, “Israel embodies the resilience, the ingenuity and the can-do comeback spirit of humanity at its best. One need not be Israeli to be inspired by the survival and success of Israel which has persisted in the face of improbable odds.  One need not be Jewish to be inspired by a Jewish state, whose rebirth and resilience and resourcefulness is one of the greatest success stories the world has ever seen.”

 

He continued, “A tiny nation, the size of New Jersey, has emerged in the span of a few decades as a global power and a global innovator, as a start-up nation, and as a water superpower. The story of Israel’s renaissance takes on special meaning in our present moment, at a time when our own country is reeling from the cataclysm of COVID-19. Israel reminds us that it is possible to overcome, it is possible to emerge stronger than ever and it is possible, in the words of President Joe Biden, to build back better. Israel has endured, for more than seven decades, and by the grace of God, may it endure for many more.”

 

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has been widely reported on for decades. According to the United Nations, since the beginning of the second intifada in September 2000 until the end of July 2007, at least 5,848 people have been killed either directly or as an indirect consequence of the conflict.

 

On 29 November 2012 Palestine was granted non-member observer State status in the UN. and the General Assembly proclaimed 2014 an International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. A new round of peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine which began in 2013 was suspended by Israel in April 2014 following the announcement of a Palestinian national consensus government. Another round of fighting between Israel and Gaza took place in July-August 2014. In 2016 the Security Council adopted resolution 2334 on [dwelling] settlements.

 

The proposed “two-state solution” to the conflict is largely acceptable to both sides and would establish Palestine as an independent state in the territory of Gaza and most of the West Bank. The remaining territory would be left to Israel. However, the finer details of how the agreement will work in practice have still not been ironed out. Human Rights Watch issued a report on the events on the ground in the area based on data compiled throughout 2019.

 

Al Jazeera reported on Sunday that “rocket fire from the besieged Gaza Strip towards Israel resumed after a daylong pause despite calls for calm from the United Nations and threats by Israeli leaders to retaliate fiercely.” It is currently unknown if the attacks in the Northwest Bronx were instigated by recent events in the Middle East or not.

No place for hate in the Bronx. We must combat antisemitism whenever and wherever it arises, especially when it takes the form of vandalism and violence. https://t.co/0vMYGJcBDy

— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) April 25, 2021

 

Back in the Bronx, City Councilman Fernando Cabrera, who represents the 14th City Council District, and who is also running for the position of Bronx borough president, also released a statement on Sunday, in which he called for immediate action following the attacks. “We are disgusted by these attacks on our neighbors,” he said. “We stand shoulder to shoulder and call for these perpetrators to be brought to justice immediately. I have sponsored a bill which emphasizes the need for fines to increase from $500 to $1,000. We will never live in an environment of fear and intimidation.”

Freelance contributor to the Norwood News and Riverdale resident, Michael Horowitz, recently wrote an Op-Ed on the importance of the Jewish Passover holiday to him, and to his local community in Riverdale.

 

Last October, the Norwood News reported on an uptick in hate crimes in the the local Northwest Bronx area, particularly as they related to the trans community. The NYPD had logged six hate crimes in the entire borough by April 11, 2021. That number has since increased to eight as of April 18, 2021. Meanwhile, eight hate crimes were also reported from Jan. 1 through April 18, 2020.

 

In the 50th precinct, which covers Riverdale, Fieldston, Kingsbridge, Marble Hill, and Spuyten Duyvil, and includes Wave Hill and Cortlandt Park, as of April 18, 2021, hate crimes recorded at the precinct remained equal to those reported for the same period in 2020, with one hate crime reported as of that date.

 

Meanwhile, in the nearby 47th precinct, which covers Woodlawn, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Baychester, Edenwald, Olinville, Fishbay, and Woodlawn Cemetary, there were no hate crimes recorded in the precinct in 2020, and one had been reported in 2021 by April 18. In the 52nd precinct, which covers Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights, one hate crime had been reported in 2021 by April 18 in the precinct versus none for the same time period last year.

 

In 2013, Norwood News reported that three Torahs (Hebrew Bible) had been stolen from a Norwood synagogue. Meanwhile, the need for kosher-observant meals amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic shows that it is estimated that there are tens of thousands of Jewish households living in the Northwest Bronx. (Census data does not record people’s religious beliefs.)

 

In October 18, 2010, officials confirmed that James Cromitie, aka Abdul Rahman, aka Abdul Rehman; David Williams, aka Daoud, aka DL; Onta Williams, aka Hamza; and Laguerre Payen, aka Amin, aka Almondo, were found guilty of plotting to detonate explosives near a synagogue and Jewish community center in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. They were also charged with plotting to shoot military planes located at the New York Air National Guard Base at Stewart Airport in Newburgh, New York, with Stinger surface-to-air guided missiles.

 

The four men were arrested on May 20, 2009, in the Bronx after planting what they believed were live explosives at various target locations, and were subsequently indicted on June 2, 2009.

 

 

According to the NYPD, five distinguished civilian leaders joined the “NYPD Hate Crime Review Panel.” These are Devorah Halberstam, executive director of the Jewish Children’s Museum, Fred Teng, president of the America China Public Affairs Institute, Pia Raymond, author, professor and social worker; Ed Powell, the longtime president of the 70^th Precinct Community Council, and David Warren, a member of Manhattan Community Board 4. Warren is also a board member of Clinton Hell’s Kitchen Chelsea Coalition for Pedestrian Safety (CHEKPEDS), and an active member of OutCycling, whose mission it is to provide bicycling activities and promote bicycling as a means of recreation, fitness, and fun.

 

“Collectively, our panelists represent decades of deep knowledge and vital experience,” representatives from the NYPD said. “They will assess circumstances that present challenges in establishing whether a victim’s actual or perceived race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability or sexual orientation were motivating factors in possible hate crime. Their contribution will enhance the department’s work and improve service to all New Yorkers.”

 

Shea said, “Our continuing partnerships with the community remain the cornerstone of our policing philosophy.” He continued,  “Whether teaming our cops up with the community to clean graffiti, partnering with esteemed advisors to reimagine policing for the 21^st Century or ensuring an independent assessment of all potential hate crimes, we are always striving to make the department fairer, stronger and more effective.”

NYPD representatives added that over the last seven years, the agency had been “forging fundamental changes in policing, including building strong relationships through Neighborhood Policing and drastically reducing the level of enforcement by focusing resources on the drivers of violence through ‘Precision Policing’.” The agency representatives added, “Our vision for this new panel, in the important area of ensuring that all New Yorkers can live free from bias, is part of our commitment to continuous improvement.”

 

Later on Sunday, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) called on local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate what they referred to as “anti-Muslim, neo-Nazi and racist graffiti” sprayed on a mosque in Moorhead, Minn., as a hate crime.

 

Officials with the Moorhead-Fargo Islamic Community Center reported to CAIR-MN that vandals spray-painted hate messages such as “Death to Islam,” F**k Islam, “N**ger,” and a Nazi swastika on and near the mosque, some time between Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25. A window of the mosque was also broken. Police have released a photo of the suspect and the FBI is assisting with the case.

 

Meanwhile, the UJA Federation of New York, which advocates for the Jewish community, tweeted on Sunday that the organization was “outraged by the heinous, hate-filled acts of vandalism directed at the Riverdale Jewish community.”

(1/2) We are outraged by the heinous, hate-filled acts of vandalism directed at the Riverdale Jewish community across four Jewish institutions over the weekend. And we're forever grateful to @NYPDHateCrimes and to our community partners the @RiverdaleY…

— ujafedny (@UJAfedNY) April 26, 2021

On Monday, April 26, Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, who represents the 16th City Council District and who is also running for the position of Bronx borough president, released the following statement on the attacks. “I stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters in condemning the vicious acts of violence perpetrated last weekend on four synagogues in the Bronx,” she said. “Vandalism, xenophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism are issues we continue to face as a city, and we must do more to combat this hate. I call on all New Yorkers to condemn the attack on the synagogues and report any information about the perpetrator of these horrific crimes to the authorities. We are better than this, and we will combat this bigotry together as a community.”

 

Anyone with information with regard to the incidents reported in the Northwest Bronx is asked to reach out to the 50th precinct at 718-543-5700 or email the Crime Prevention unit at ralph.cintron@nypd.org. People can also call the NYPD Crimestoppers tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS. All calls are strictly confidential.

 

The NYPD reminds New Yorkers that if any other similar events occur, they should not touch anything in order to preserve the crime scene.

I'm raising money to repair 4 synagogues in Riverdale that were vandalized. We are helping our neighbors. Click to Donate https://t.co/oobwQBd2bR @ManhattanEdu @JamaalBowmanNY @riverdalepress @NYPD50Pct @RiverdaleYMYWHA @JTAnews @HIRBayit #GoFundMe #Riverdale #jewishtwitter

— Mehnaz Afridi (@HGIManhattan) April 26, 2021

 

Meanwhile, a gofundme page has been set-up by Mehnaz Afridi to help fund the repairs of the damage to the synagogues.

 

For general questions about the work that the New York City Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes is doing, New Yorkers can email OPHC@cityhall.nyc.gov or visit nyc.gov/stophate.