Cambridge Mayor Marc McGovern called such vandalism an act of hatred.“Cambridge stands in opposition to such animus and remains vigilant to the slightest offense,” he tweeted Sunday.Walking past Cambridge Common today w @itsmejono, we saw the park menorah on the ground. 2 young women had witnessed a young man on a bike push it over with intent. We gathered some strangers to help us put it back up. Then the older, Jewish gentleman said a Hanukkah prayer. pic.twitter.com/dm5oX0aX0I
— lillian milagros (@lillian) December 2, 2018
On Nov. 28, a 6-foot-high, 300-pound menorah was stolen from outside a synagogue in nearby Brookline, a Boston suburb. It was later found nearby, according to Boston police, who said the thief may have wanted to sell it as scrap metal, the Globe reported.A spate of anti-Semitic incidents including swastikas and hate speech have beset a town north of Boston.“This negativity and hate is out there,” Zarchi said. But the rabbi said he took comfort from the kindness of the people who “sprung into action to restore the menorah and put it back in place.”“It’s a very Hanukkah story,” he said, of the power of light over darkness. “Their actions moved many in the community.”On Tuesday evening, Chabad at Harvard was to hold its annual menorah lighting on Harvard Yard, with Harvard President Lawrence Bacow lighting the menorah. On Thursday, the Chabad community will gather at the public menorah on the Cambridge Common and acknowledge the efforts of those who restored the menorah and the people who recorded the video.We are awaiting further details as the @CambridgePolice investigate. In the absence of more info, the Mayor’s Office considers the toppling of menorah as an act of hatred. Cambridge stands in opposition to such animus and remains vigilant to the slightest offense. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/Uls4Q8dojy
— Mayor Marc McGovern (@Cambridge_Mayor) December 3, 2018