After investigations into destroyed gravestones, the public asks for help

ROTTERDAM, NY (NEWS10) – Several gravestones vandalized months ago still lie toppled in Jewish Memorial Park, and some members of the local Jewish community are calling for more intensive investigations into the ongoing investigation.

Marc Gronich has encouraged members of the Schenectady and Clifton Park Jewish community to speak out against the vandalism. He says the group of communities whose members are buried in the cemetery have been unable to repair the damage.

“Nothing has happened yet to re-erect the stones in the cemetery. We are trying to raise money for that. It will cost about $50,000 and we have raised about $12,000,” Gronich explained.

Although Rotterdam police are still actively investigating, Gronich says more resources should be devoted to finding the vandals. He asks the committee to consider a similar situation in Ohio. “On July 3, they found toppled gravestones in Cincinnati. President Biden has commented on this and I ask: does the President’s administration really need to intervene in this case in Rotterdam?”

The City Council considers the vandalism to be serious. In the meantime, the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York is working with local law enforcement to protect the community. Its President and CEO Rob Kovach says, among other things:

“Anti-Semitism is on the rise in our community and around the world. Since the terrorist attacks of October 7, we have seen an unprecedented rise in anti-Semitic rhetoric and anti-Semitic actions.”

Two months after the conflict between Israel and Hamas began last year, shots were fired outside Temple Israel in Albany shortly before the Hanukkah celebrations. The FBI’s Albany office participated in the investigation and the suspect was taken into custody and charged with a hate crime.