A security guard reported finding anti-Semitic vandalism early Wednesday morning in South Beach.
Miami Beach Police Department detectives responded to the corner of the Congregation Beth Medrash Levi Yitzchok Lubavitch at 1140 Alton Rd., across from the Flamingo Park.
The building is also known as the Haim and Gila Wiener Florida Lubavitch Headquarters, a corner complex that also houses a school for boys and the Yeshiva Gedolah College, a 4-year private rabbinical institution for men that offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Haim A. Wiener and Gila Rosenhaus Wiener are also the founders of the American Society for the Advancement of the Cantorial Arts, a group that aims to preserve Jewish traditions that were prohibited by regimes in Europe.
The security guard, who had a nightshift to protect the building in South Beach, told police officers he noticed someone spray painted a swastika and an upside-down cross on a white decorative sphere at the entrance of the property after 6:30 a.m.
FBI agents are usually involved in hate crime investigations, which do include vandalism. FBI agents welcome tips at 1-800-225-5324 or online here. Miami Beach detectives are asking anyone with information to call the department at 305-673-949-5500 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Miami Zal has the highest level of security, with proper fencing, cameras, gates that are always locked, and an armed guard. Random scribbles aren’t the guards job to look out for, but seems he noticed them anyway.
When I was living in Miami (late 90s to 2004) , occasionally, I would hear yelled at me something like; “HEIL H…”; “YOU … JEW. Long live Pa….e.”
If the security guard noticed someone spray painting as a security guard why didn’t he go after and approach the person who was spray painting.
Every Chabad Mosod must have cameras.
Must. Must. Must.
You the Shliach are responsible for this.
The hatefully graphity was noticed by a bochur – Yossi Rosenblum – not by the security gaurd.
It’s not the security gaurd’s job to look for harmless in scribbles, but for real threats!
An insider.
Our dear guard is highly skilled and dedicated. The quote which appeared in his name was never actually said by him to the news. It was an incredibly missable bit of graffiti and most likely was scrawled in the midst of the night. And he missed it which doing his daily bush check. This does not indicate a lack of competence, there was no potential threat posed by the cement balls, so there was no real need for him to check them. In general I find it unnecessary and highly magnetic to make a big issue out of the cowardly… Read more »
known to the perpetrator? If he saw the guy why didn’t he confront him? Really don’t understand that. What is his job anyway? Did he at least report this to police as it was happening or only later when people started coming to shul and school did he inform anyone? Not much help I think!
What’s going on with our Chabad yeshivos gedolos? First Toronto, then Bnei Brak, now Miami — all in ONE WEEK!
Thank Hashem no one was hurt seriously in any of these incidents.
Merkos and Boards of Directors: Please take note of the need to protect our zal talmidim and the buildings in which they dwell and learn!!!!!
May we all dwell in safety, amein!