Vile vandals slapped anti-Semitic screeds throughout the home windows of a Brooklyn Israeli restaurant — however the proprietor needs to depart the messages up in a defiance to shed a lightweight on hate native Jewish residents are experiencing.
“Genocide cuisine,” was one of many messaged stenciled with crimson paint throughout the home windows and doorways of Miriam, an Israeli-owned center japanese restaurant in Park Slope.
“Israel steals culture” was one other, whereas the entrance door and stoop was splashed with crimson paint in a transparent try and emulate spilled blood.
The assault went down simply earlier than 3 a.m. Sunday morning, with three vandals sneaking up on the spot beneath the duvet of darkness with their faces hidden behind hoods and masks.
One of many vandals served as a lookout, whereas the opposite two hurriedly marred Miriam’s home windows earlier than scurrying off into the night time, safety footage obtained by The Submit confirmed.
“It’s just a sad thing, you know, I don’t know what people, why they’re so angry about a restaurant in Brooklyn,” mentioned Rafael Hasid, who’s owned the restaurant for 20 years.
“I’m Israeli, like, ‘I’m sorry I was born in Israel?’ I’m not stealing anybody’s food, not doing anything. I don’t know what people, what do they want from me, what did I do?” he advised The Submit.
The incident was the second time his restaurant was focused by anti-Israel agitators. About two years in the past, Hasid’s Miriam location on the Higher West Aspect was equally vandalized.
He’s additionally been subjected to quite a few threatening cellphone calls, whereas he mentioned random individuals who have by no means eaten at his eating places have blanketed him with adverse opinions on-line.
Whereas he has every thing he wants to wash the paint off his glass, Hasid determined to open his doorways Sunday with out cleansing it off to individuals are pressured to take a look at the hate lurking in their very own neighborhood.
“I want people to see it. I want the people to see it. I don’t want to wash it right away. People should see and like, see that things like that happen,” he mentioned.
And he mentioned the general public’s response has been inspiring, with individuals stopping by to eat who in any other case hadn’t deliberate to, some providing to donate to assist with the clear up, and others sticking their heads within the merely supply their assist and condolences.
US Sen. Chuck Schumer even stopped by to put an order and present his assist, the proprietor mentioned.
Police are investigating the incident, and have have posted officers to face watch close by.
Incidents of antisemitism have spiked throughout town since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and introduced the Israeli-Palestinian battle to the headlines.
Extra reporting by Steven Vago
