Another incident of anti-Semitism has been committed within Edison, this time at a public park.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CONGREGATION BETH-EL Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg outside of Congregation Beth-El on Sept. 28 where three swastikas were painted on the outside of the building during the overnight hours of Sept. 28. The latest incident of anti-semitism was discovered Oct. 9 at Paterniti Park, where about 15-20 swastikas were found on playground equipment. A township resident spotted numerous swastikas at Paterniti Park on Vineyard Road along with religious slurs on playground equipment. The markings were written in black marker and were described as bias crime writings, according to a statement issued by the Edison police Department late last week.
The most recent bias incident continues a string of them that started on Sept. 19 when a 16-year-old allegedly punched a Jewish man on Woodbridge Avenue. The boy was recently charged with bias intimidation in the incident after he allegedly hit the man because of his religion.
On the morning of Sept. 29, three swastikas in blue spray paint were found on the outside of Congregation Beth-El on Jefferson Boulevard. Suspects in that case are still being sought.
JEFF GRANIT staff Swastikas were painted on the outside of Congregation Beth-El in Edison in the overnight hours of Sept. 28. Township Mayor Jun Choi issued a statement denouncing the crimes.
“These actions are intolerable. They [the offenders] will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Choi said. “Edison has always prided itself on respecting different cultures and faiths of all backgrounds.”
Even with the statement being made by Choi, Dr. Rabbi Bernhard Rosenberg, the leader of Congregation Beth-El, is not satisfied.
“He may have written a statement to members of the media and the police department, but at no point in the last two weeks since the incident happened at my temple has he reached out to me or any members of my congregation,” Rosenberg said. “This is his township, and so he really should have reached out. So many news outlets were here the day after the incident occurred, and that was the time he should have been here as well.”
He also said that he feels these recent acts of anti-Semitism are not over and this latest incident is a copycat of the one at his temple.
Rosenberg also commended the Edison Police Department for their recent work on the incidents.
“But the fact is, there should have been more of a police presence around the temple, especially during the holidays. If that was the case, the temple would never have been spray-painted,” Rosenberg said. “It’s not their fault, though. They’re undermanned right now, and I blame that on Choi.”
Choi responded by saying that he has recently been in touch with leaders of the Jewish American community and that “historically, Rabbi Rosenberg has used these unfortunate incidents to make a spectacle of things.”
Township Police Chief Thomas Bryan said on Monday that there were no updates regarding the incidents.
Police are asking anyone with any information on the Beth-El and Paterniti Park cases to call the Edison Police Detective Bureau at 732-248-7450.