In the early days of the holiday of Sukkot, an antisemitic vandalism incident occurred at Eshel Persian Restaurant, located at 507 Columbus Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
According to the reports, a rock was thrown at the restaurant’s front door, resulting in visible damage.
Context in the Broader Environment
While the specific incident at Eshel has not yet been documented in major news outlets, it comes amid a broader rise in reports of antisemitic vandalism, graffiti, or bias-motivated attacks targeting kosher or Jewish-affiliated eateries in NYC.
Other recent cases include cafés and restaurants on the Upper West Side and Brooklyn where anti-Jewish or anti-Israeli messaging and physical damage were confirmed by media.
These patterns underscore the heightened concern in the Jewish and kosher business community around safety and targeted acts of hostility.
Implications for the Community & Business
The reported timing—during the festival of Sukkot—makes the incident especially sensitive for the Jewish community, for whom this period is one of gathering, hospitality and visibility.
For Eshel Persian Restaurant, which prides itself on serving kosher fare and welcoming the community, the damage may have operational and emotional ramifications. The owner and staff may feel heightened vulnerability and may need to review security protocols, signage, and reassurance outreach.
For patrons and the wider kosher-business ecosystem, the incident is a reminder of the need for vigilance, community backing and proactive relationship-building with local authorities.