Three public London menorahs appear to have been vandalised in less than a week - The Jewish Chronicle

The Jewish community in Muswell Hill has been left distressed after a public menorah installed by Chabad appeared to have been vandalised on Thursday night. It came just days after the mass shooting at Bondi Beach that targeted a Chanukah celebration organised by Chabad.

Community members discovered on Friday morning that all the lightbulbs on the menorah on Fortis Green Road had been smashed, on the fourth night of Chanukah.

[Missing Credit]Smashed lightbulbs on the Muswell Hill menorah (Credit: Ben Paul)

The incident follows at least two other cases this week in which public menorahs put up to celebrate the chag were damaged in Notting Hill and West Hampstead.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed these are being investigated as religiously aggravated hate crimes. The CST has also been notified.

[Missing Credit]The Muswell Hill menorah (Credit: Ben Paul)

In the days after Sunday’s terror attack in Sydney, flowers and cards bearing messages of sympathy had been laid at the base of the Muswell Hill menorah.

“We’ve been heartbroken since the attack on Sunday, yet we’ve been heartened by the outpouring of support since,” Rabbi Boruch Altein of Crouch End Chabad told the JC.

“The darkness will not stop us,” he insisted.

“We’re not going to be intimidated by this damage. We will increase the light – continuing to add goodness and kindness – and when good people join together, we far outnumber the hate.”

[Missing Credit]Flowers for the victims of the Bondi Beach attack at the base of the Muswell Hill menorah (Credit: Ben Paul)

Rabbi Altein said the menorah will be “back up and running” later today, and encouraged members of the public to attend a lighting ceremony taking place this Sunday at 4pm.

“All are welcome to join in and stand proud,” he said.

Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Met’s hate crime lead, said: “This has been a tremendously difficult week for the Jewish community following the terror attack in Australia this weekend, and I appreciate how these hate crime incidents will cause further hurt and distress.

“We’re working closely with local partners, including religious leaders, and have put in place additional visible patrols. We are treating these reports extremely seriously and will update further when we can.”

The CST said the apparent cases of vandalism are “appalling and disgraceful, particularly in the wake of the horrific terror attack in Sydney where Jewish people were killed while celebrating Chanukah.”

A spokesperson added: "We have had several such examples of damage to Chanukiahs reported to CST this week. The story of Chanukah is one of light and hope, and Jewish people should be free to celebrate this holiday without fear or hatred. We urge anyone with information to contact the police and then report it to CST.”

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