Hanukkah Menorah in Hertfordshire Vandalized in Suspected Hate Crime

The Jewish community gathered to celebrate Hanukkah despite the defacement, with police investigating the incident as part of a broader rise in antisemitic crimes.

• A Hanukkah menorah in Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire, was vandalized over the weekend, with branches torn down and blue paint splattered on it.
• The incident is being treated as a hate crime by Hertfordshire police, who are reviewing CCTV footage and increasing patrols in the area.
• Rabbi Eliezer Tunk, director of Chabad Lubavitch Bricket Wood, expressed shock and sadness but emphasized the community's resilience as the menorah lighting proceeded with strong attendance.
• Antisemitic hate crimes in the UK have seen a significant rise since October 2023, with incidents outpacing Islamophobic crimes for the first time on record, particularly in areas like London and Manchester.
• The vandalism follows broader tensions, including protests targeting Jewish religious events, raising concerns among British Jewish groups about law enforcement's handling of such incidents.

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