Council Member Stephen Levin issued the following
statement regarding an incident in which a mezuzah was reportedly stolen at 75
Wilson Street at the Taylor-Wythe Houses in Williamsburg. The incident, which
reportedly occurred Wednesday evening, is being investigated by the NYPD as a
potential bias crime.
“I am shocked and disturbed that a mezuzah -- a religious symbol of deep importance to the Jewish faith -- was stolen from the home of a member of the Williamsburg community last evening. We stand together against hateful acts and will pursue whoever is responsible until they are found. Just a year ago multiple mezuzahs were desecrated in the same community and the criminal was found speedily thanks to the work of the NYPD. I have full confidence in the NYPD as they investigate this crime and will continue to work with them through the entirety of the investigation.”
"The desecration of a holy Mezuzah at NYCHA's Independence Towers last night, reopens the painful wounds of the devastating Mezuzah burnings the community endured last year at the same NYCHA Complex, reigniting the fear of residents, especially elderly Holocaust Survivors. The designation of this heinous act as hate crime by the NYPD is right, because this is what it is, a religious bias crime. We are confident that the 90th Precinct and 1 Police Plaza will apprehend those responsible and justice will be served."
