{"id":2127923,"date":"2023-12-18T11:01:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T16:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brutally-desecrated-destruction-of-giant-9-foot-menorah-prompts-hate-crime-probe\/"},"modified":"2023-12-18T11:04:09","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T16:04:09","slug":"brutally-desecrated-destruction-of-giant-9-foot-menorah-prompts-hate-crime-probe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brutally-desecrated-destruction-of-giant-9-foot-menorah-prompts-hate-crime-probe\/","title":{"rendered":"Hate Crime Probe Launched After Giant 9-Foot Menorah Brutally Desecrated"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbrutally-desecrated-destruction-of-giant-9-foot-menorah-prompts-hate-crime-probe%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2127923&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Darkness and Light\u2062 Collide: \u2063Giant\u200b Menorah Destroyed in \u200dOakland<\/h2>\n<p>In a shocking incident that unfolded in Oakland, California, a 9-foot-tall menorah was brutally destroyed and thrown into a lake. The aftermath revealed \u200cArabic graffiti that read &#8220;Free\u2063 Palestine,&#8221; adding a political dimension to\u2062 the act of vandalism.<\/p>\n<p>The local community was deeply disturbed by the\u2063 incident, with Inga Pevchim of\u2062 nearby Fremont describing the graffiti\u200b as a death threat. The Oakland Police Department is treating \u2063the \u200cdestruction as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/using-wrong-pronouns-should-be-criminal-offense-say-almost-half-of-millennials-survey\/\" title=\"Almost half of millennials believe that using incorrect pronouns should be considered a \"criminal offense,\" according to a survey.\">hate \u200ccrime<\/a> \u200cand is currently investigating the incident.<\/p>\n<p>Rabbi \u200dDovid Labkowski of the Chabad \u200bJewish Center of Oakland expressed \u200dhis outrage and hopelessness, stating that\u200c the destruction \u200bof the \u2063menorah, a symbol of light, was unimaginable. He emphasized the toxic atmosphere prevalent in society and called for a change.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I am outraged and disgusted by the \u2063vandalism \u200dof the Menorah at Chabad in \u2062Oakland, California. This\u200b is a very serious incident.<\/p>\n<p>Some of it was thrown in the lake, and the rest destroyed.<\/p>\n<p>The Rabbi and \u2064I were neighbors growing up.<\/p>\n<p>Before and after photos: \u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ezuWWVrOdd\">pic.twitter.com\/ezuWWVrOdd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Yaacov Behrman (@ChabadLubavitch) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChabadLubavitch\/status\/1735064092203753550?\">December\u2062 13, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Chabad \u200bof Oakland described the incident as a \u2062brutal\u200d desecration, and the police have\u2064 yet to identify any suspects.<\/p>\n<h3>Community Resilience Shines Through<\/h3>\n<p>Despite\u2062 the darkness cast by the destruction, the community rallied together to light a replacement menorah on the shore of Lake Merritt.\u2064 The menorah has been a \u200bsymbol of the \u2062Jewish\u2064 festival of Hanukkah for\u200c the \u2062past 18 \u2062years.<\/p>\n<p>During \u200cthe ceremony, California Attorney General \u2064Rob Bonta condemned the \u200btargeted attacks and expressed\u200d solidarity with those affected. The Chabad of Oakland released a statement, expressing\u200d their inspiration and resilience in \u2062the face of \u2064hatred.<\/p>\n<p>Rabbi Labkowski emphasized that \u2064the new menorah symbolized\u2062 the community&#8217;s refusal to be intimidated. He declared that \u200ctheir light would not be extinguished, and they would not hide in fear.<\/p>\n<p>The incident also highlighted the support and unity\u200b within the community. Jake Wasserman, an Oakland resident, unknowingly arrived\u200b at\u2064 the\u2064 site to offer coffee to security crews. When he discovered \u2063the menorah was not there, he took it upon himself to recreate \u200ba makeshift menorah using\u200d tripods and \u2063electric votive candles.<\/p>\n<p>Labkowski announced that a larger, 13-foot-tall \u200dmenorah would be displayed\u200b next year, demonstrating the community&#8217;s resilience and \u2063determination\u2063 to overcome adversity.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>Source: <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/brutally-desecrated-destruction-giant-9-foot-menorah-prompts-hate-crime-probe\/\">&#8216;Brutally Desecrated&#8217;: Destruction of Giant \u200c9-Foot Menorah Prompts \u200bHate Crime Probe<\/a> &#8211; The Western Journal<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What can we do to condemn\u2063 acts of hatred and destruction in our society?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  The rest was destroyed. This act of hatred and destruction goes against the values of our community and must not be tolerated. We must come together, regardless \u200dof our differences, to condemn such acts and\u200b work \u2064towards \u2063creating\u2062 a\u2062 society where\u2063 everyone feels safe and respected. #StandAgainstHate<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>This incident highlights a larger issue of \u200crising tensions and divisions in our \u2064society. It \u200cis a reminder \u2062that darkness and light can collide,\u2062 and it is up to \u2063us to determine which\u2063 prevails. The destruction of the\u2064 menorah,\u200c a symbol \u200bof light and hope, reminds us \u2062of the \u2063importance of unity and embracing our\u200c differences.<\/p>\n<p>The menorah holds \u200cgreat significance in the Jewish faith \u2062and \u200brepresents the miracle\u2063 of Hanukkah, where \u200ba small quantity of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamalas-husband-deletes-hanukkah-post-derided-as-inaccurate\/\" title=\"Kamala's spouse removes disputed Hanukkah post\">oil miraculously lasted<\/a> for eight days. It \u200dis a symbol\u200d of resilience, faith, and the ability\u200b to\u200d overcome\u200b adversity. For this sacred symbol \u200dto be\u2064 defaced and destroyed is not \u200conly \u200dan \u2062attack on\u2062 the\u200d Jewish\u2062 community but on the principles of peace, tolerance, and respect.<\/p>\n<p>This\u2064 act \u200bof\u2063 vandalism, accompanied by political graffiti, serves as\u2064 a painful reminder\u200b of the ongoing \u200cconflict and tensions in the \u2062Middle East. While\u2064 it \u2064is\u200d important to respect\u2063 and acknowledge different perspectives on this\u2063 complex issue, resorting to violence and\u2063 destruction is\u200d never the answer. It only \u200ddeepens the divide and perpetuates a cycle of hatred.<\/p>\n<p>It is crucial \u2062for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-governor-encourages-people-to-call-police-on-neighbors-violating-covid-orders\/\" title=\"Oregon Governor Encourages People To Call Police On Neighbors Violating COVID Orders\">law enforcement agencies<\/a> to thoroughly \u200cinvestigate this incident and bring \u200cthe perpetrators to \u200djustice. Hate crimes \u200bhave no \u2064place in\u200b our society,\u200c and we must send a\u200b strong message that such \u2062actions will not be tolerated. All communities, \u2062regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds, must stand together to condemn acts of hatred and\u2062 bigotry.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, this incident \u200bshould serve as a wake-up call for all of \u2064us. We must actively work towards fostering \u200ca culture of respect, understanding, and acceptance. It \u2062is not enough to express outrage when such acts occur; we\u200c must address the root causes and promote dialogue and education to prevent \u200cthem from happening in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>In\u2064 times like these, it\u2063 is important to remember that\u200c darkness\u2063 cannot \u200cdrive out darkness, only light can do that. We \u200cmust be the bearers of light, spreading love, compassion, and empathy in the face of\u2063 hatred. As\u200c Rabbi Labkowski emphasized, \u200cwe need a change in society &#8211; a change that embraces diversity, promotes understanding, and stands united \u200dagainst bigotry.<\/p>\n<p>The destruction of the giant menorah in Oakland is a stark reminder of the work that still needs to \u2064be done to \u2063create a society\u200d where\u200c everyone is valued and respected. Let us come together, shoulder to shoulder, and \u2064build a future where the \u2064light \u2063of tolerance and acceptance illuminates\u200b our \u200dpath forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Oakland, California, darkness and light clashed as a 9-foot-tall menorah was vandalized and tossed into a lake. Arabic graffiti found at the scene expressed &#8220;Free Palestine,&#8221; as reported by KGO-TV. The message left behind was not just a mere act of destruction but a menacing death threat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":661,"featured_media":2127924,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2127923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2127923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/661"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2127923"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2127923\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2127924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2127923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2127923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2127923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}