Reward Offered in Bergen County Anti-Semitic Vandalism Cases

The Anti-Defamation League is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in two recent incidents where area synagogues were defaced with swastikas and anti-Semitic messages.

The first incident was reported Dec. 10 at Temple Beth Israel in Maywood, according to the Anti-Defamation League. A similar crime was reported on the first day of Hanukkah at Temple Beth El in Hackensack. Police have said they believe the two incidents are linked.

“We are deeply troubled by a repeat attack on a Jewish place of worship in Bergen County," Etzion Neuer, ADL director of community service and policy in the New York Regional Office said in a statement. "At a time when Jews are celebrating the joyous festival of Hanukkah, they instead find themselves cleaning symbols of hatred off their place of worship. While graffiti swastikas are often the work of malicious juveniles, the appearance of white supremacist symbols strongly suggests an extremist connection."

In the Hackensack case, swastikas, the phrase 'Jews Did 9/11,' and the white-supremacist code '14/88,' were found, the statement said.

Chief Robert Wilson said he has been in touch with Hackensack’s top police official, Capt. Tomas Padilla, about the nearby incidents. No similar cases have been reported in Teaneck recently, police said.

“We are monitoring all our houses of worship vigilantly,” Wilson said. “We ensured that all of our officers are aware these incidents have occurred.”

Teaneck officers regularly conduct checks at the town’s more than 40 religious sites.

Authorities urged anyone with information to contact the Hackensack Police Department at 201-646-7777 or Crime Stoppers at 201-488-4222.