Metro
to exclude, to expel
A New York City fast food restaurant was vandalized with swastikas in an anti-Semitic attack that took place after the eatery posted pro-Israel content on its social media.
The owner of 2nd Avenue Deli told The Post that a tenant of the Upper East Side building warned him that the storefront had been defaced with a hate symbol.
“We saw it this morning,” Lebewohl said outside the restaurant. It’s really horrible. It makes me sad.
It’s sad that people feel the need to say they hate Jews in 2023. That people can be open about it. Now that hatred of Jews is out there, people just feel more empowered to say it.
This is the first time Lebewohl has posted a hate symbol on his building, but he said he is always prepared for it to happen.
Lebewohl, who owns the building, was concerned about hanging Israeli and American flags in the windows because he was afraid people would come and throw rocks at my store.
He was disappointed at the prospect of sabotage.
It’s sad to say, he said, that if I hung two flags in my window in New York City, someone would feel the need to vandalize my property.
The deli lamented the damage in a post on its Instagram page.
Thank you for reminding us that we are on the right side of history, read the message next to a photo of the Nazi symbol with the words homeland security and pride of Israel.
This is not just a war over land. This is not just a war about Israel. This is not just a war with all the Jews of the world. This is a battle between good and evil.
The James Beard American Classic certified kosher restaurant in 1998 has featured pro-Israel content on its social media pages, including images of the country’s flag, since the September terrorist attack. October 7 of Hamas entering Israel.
We stand with Israel. We stand up against the obvious evil that has once again revealed itself today, the company wrote on the day of the attack.
But Lebewohl said he was careful not to provoke to protect the store.
Since the violence broke out, the company has ditched its usual content of highlighting food and drink to post updates on the war and ongoing violence, with a particular emphasis on the deaths of children.
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“I will never be satisfied with the deaths of Palestinian civilians,” Lebewohl said. But there’s a big difference between saying all civilians need to be protected when you have a group of people who are intentionally killing, mutilating, massacring civilians.
Everyone can say black and white, teenage girls being raped, children being murdered right in front of their parents, no context needed, everyone can say very clearly that it’s horrible.
Jeffrey Haberman, 74, who occasionally eats at the deli, said the graffiti was deplorable and despicable.
Haberman said in the last month he knows of three synagogues that have been vandalized, including the one he attends, Or Zarua. He said he was not worried about his own safety, but these actions showed the extent of the influence of the Hamas cause beyond its borders.
This is no coincidence. Hamas has enough reach. People are sending very clear messages that they don’t want Jews here. But if you sabotage, it won’t make a difference. We won’t leave.
Follow The Post’s coverage of Israel’s war with Hamas
2nd Avenue Deli was originally founded in 1954 as an East Village luncheonette on East 10th Street by Abe Lebewohl, Lebewohl’s uncle.
The NYPD said the act of hate is being investigated.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, nearly 3,000 people were killed in the Gaza Strip, while nearly 10,000 were injured. Nearly two-thirds of the dead were children.
Another 1,200 people are believed to be buried under the rubble.
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Image Source : nypost.com