[Summit] Anti-semitic incidents

Tue Jan 1 18:56:48 UTC 2008

Elianna,

    I didn't know the situation was so bad. Your email made me sick to my stomach. I don't know how this can happen in a civilized society. I'll be extra alert for any indication of a similar problem. I did drive by the temple on Rochambeau looking for signs but there were none. I forgot to go by the temple on Summit. Perhaps someone could check there as well.

Paul

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bresler E 
  To: Neighborhood Association 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 1:48 PM
  Subject: Re: [Summit] Anti-semitic incidents

  We have been having a problem with a group of not-kids-anymore (they were in college when it started) for about five years now.  Some of them, including a driver of a dark blue compact, live back in that circle of houses off Cole which backs up to the Brown soccer field. The police knew who some of those "kids" were. This may also be their work. 

  Over a period of 4 - 5 years (I think), primarily at school vacation and over the summer, visibly Jewish people, and Jewish institutions were sporadically egged.  I wear an obvious head covering and have had eggs thrown at me on three occasions: alone, walking with my husband and walking with another religious lady and her baby in a stroller, who was nearly hit. A Jewish owned store. A home with a car in the drive way with bumper stickers about Israel. On the sidewalk in front of a shul, in front of the JCC. This is what I happened to see myself. 

  The JCC was plastered- rendered disgusting with eggs on three occasions, and one time they hit it so hard, they set off the alarms.  On that occasion, around midnight,  I happened to be driving nearby and heard them.  I had the keys to the back area, because I was working at the Mikveh at that time, and after I let the cops into the area, we discussed the problem.  (That was the third egging in a few weeks)  I told him how the small blue car disappeared into the residential area on the other side of the field after egging me and my friend with the child, and he told me that they knew, they were back there and who they were.  He said the police were working on it. 

  After that I saw a break in the eggings of about a year, but I think it was also Sept- and they may have gone away to school.

  But they have still happened sporadically. Probably there are many I don't see or hear about.  Just before the plant trashings, our porch was egged on the Sabbath, right after my husband left for Shul wearing his tallis.  Last June a neighbor's house was egged.  Interestingly his immediate response was- "How did they know I was Jewish???"  I pointed to the bumper sticker on his car. 

  You also may remember the incident of the trashing of all the plants along Hope Street?  I could not help notice that all the damage was done to Blacks, Jews, Indians and a Gay frequented restaurant, except I don't know anything about Frog and Toad.  Other people's garden's were not invaded, to my knowledge. 

  Alcohol may play a role in this; Saturday night, graduation party night, extremely hot nights, now New Years Eve seem to bring out this trash behavior.

  The signs, though amateurish, are scarier to me, because they are an attempt brag, and encourage others.   

  The circle symbols on the first tombstone, for those who don't know, are the discreet markings put on commercial foods that has been checked by a trained individual and determined to be kosher.  The Hebrew letters above are an abbreviation for a blessing.  However they are scrawled in the way of someone familiar with writing them frequently.  I hope there is not a disturbed Jew involved in this! 

  I am glad to see the neighborhood will not tolerate this.  For some of us this is very frightening.  Thank you Paul for bringing this to our attention.

  Elianna

  cc to Lt Schiavulli 

  On Jan 1, 2008 12:19 PM, <ccancro at cox.net> wrote:

    Thank you, Paul, for having the wisdom to pull down these signs, scan one, and alert Lieutenant Schiavullo.  I've taken the liberty of cc'ing this exchange to the RI CLU and the New England region of the Anti-Defamation League. 

    My husband's first cousin once removed was murdered in Auschwitz, so this is pretty close to home.  And while many moons ago I worked on a resource guide to the Holocaust, I don't know how to begin addressing hate crimes. 

    Here's hoping we can get some good feedback from the police, the RI CLU, or the ADL.  And for what it's worth, I wish you all a happy new year.

    Carol C.

    ---- Greg Gerritt <gerritt at mindspring.com> wrote:
    > Yes.  greg
    >
    >
    > on 1/1/08 10:49 AM, Elizabeth Grossman at egrossman1 at cox.net wrote:
    >
    > > Do you think a word to the police is in order and perhaps a heads up to civil
    > > liberties and anti-defamation groups? Elizabeth
    > > On Jan 1, 2008, at 6:18 AM, Paul Aceto wrote: 
    > >
    > >>
    > >> I went out early this morning to get a newspaper at the coin box on Hope
    > >> near Rochambeau. I noticed a sign on the pole next to the box that caught my
    > >> eye. The headline said "JUDENRAT". and below it were three tombstones. 
    > >> Needless to say, I was shocked. I saw that other poles nearby had the same
    > >> sign. I removed four signs between Rochambeau and the library. I scanned the
    > >> sign and put it on the web so others could see it. 
    > >>
    > >> 
    > >>
    > >> http://members.cox.net/pjaceto/1_1_08.jpg
    > >>
    > >> 
    > >>
    > >> Paul Aceto
    > >>
    > >> 
    > >> __________________
    >

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