Elected officials respond to vandalism at Gravesend yeshiva

GRAVESEND — BROOKLYN’S INTERFAITH COMMUNITY IS CONDEMNING THE VANDALISM AT A YESHIVAH on McDonald Avenue and Avenue T. Nazi swastikas were scrawled on a building of Magen David Yeshivah, which provides early childhood education through 12th grade in the Sephardic Jewish tradition. The Yeshivah received support from religious and civic leaders around New York.

Some officials are blaming the timing of this incident on the election Tuesday of New York’s first Muslim mayor, but he and other elected officials have condemned the vandalism, which a security guard reported around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to Gothamist.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani wrote on X, “This is a disgusting and heartbreaking act of antisemitism, and it has no place in our beautiful city. As mayor, I will always stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors to root the scourge of antisemitism out of our city.” A few hours earlier, Congressmember Nicole Malliotakis called on Mamdani via X to denounce the vandalism.

Several elected officials announced their participation in a scheduled afternoon press conference that State Sen. Sam Sutton, D-22, was convening on Wednesday. As of press time, the conference had not yet concluded.

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