Shelter Rock Jewish Center sign splashed with paint will be replaced, rabbi says

The Nassau County Police Department is investigating an incident at Shelter Rock Jewish Center on the evening of Aug. 30 when a large banner in front of the Roslyn synagogue that reads "We Stand With Israel" and "Bring Them Home Now" was splashed with red paint.

The incident occurred on Rabbi Claudio Kupchik’s first weekend with the synagogue. On Sunday, Kupchik blew a shofar and addressed a crowd of about 100 gathered around the sign,  including congregants and politicians such as Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), Assemb. Gina Sillitti (D-Port Washington), and Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena.

 "We must respond to this outrage, to this defacement of a sign calling for the end of terrorism and the rescue of the innocent, with resolve and conviction," Kupchik said. "We need to replace that sign and we will. But we also need to feel called to action by this incident."

The sign had been installed on Aug. 28, said Susan Pavane, president of Shelter Rock’s board. Pavane confirmed the synagogue will replace the sign and install additional security cameras around it.

The incident happened nearly 11 months after the start of the Israel-Hamas war, triggered by the Oct. 7 killings of around 1,200 people in Israel by Hamas militants. Hamas is believed to still be holding around 100 hostages, while Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health says more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks.

Antisemitic incidents in New York soared 110% in 2023, according to a report from the Anti-Defamation League. 

Richard Cohen, an Albertson resident and Shelter Rock congregation member, said he felt his "heart drop" when he drove up to the synagogue the morning after the incident and saw the sign.

"I was angry and sad, mostly sad," Cohen, 65, said. "This is a pretty inclusive community, with people of all races, creeds and religions."

Linda Lebovitz, 69, is not a member of Shelter Rock but felt compelled to show her support on Sunday because "there’s so much antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment," she said. The East Hills native said she was hardly shocked by what happened to the sign.

"It’s all over, and it has been. Antisemitism has existed since day one," Leibovitz said. "It’s very sad that it’s right here in our backyard. And it’s blatant."

Jessica Rubin, 29, and her mother, Laurie Asher, 66, are both members of the Shelter Rock board. The Williston Park residents agreed it felt strange for what they believe was a hateful act to occur in their area.

"It's a little unnerving," Asher said.

"You see things happen other places and you don't do anything or say anything, or people aren't loud enough," Rubin added. "And then they come for you."

By Joshua Needelman

joshua.needelman@newsday.com

Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.