Queens Public Menorah Vandalized

Rabbi Yerachmiel Zalmanov, Shliach in Eastern Queens, was in for a shock today when he went to check up on some of the numerous public Menorahs he’s placed around his neighborhood.

The Shliach was devastated to find that the Menorah stationed at the entrance to his neighborhood had been vandalized and knocked to the ground.

While Zalmanov was saddened by the scene that met his eyes, he says this won’t affect the way the holiday is celebrated.

“Chanukah is the holiday of light,” he told COLlive. “It gives us the opportunity to add light to the world. This terrible act of devastation will not bring us down.”

The police, who are investigating the incident as a hate crime, helped Zalmanov put the Menorah back together and it was later lit with great joy, Zalmanov said.