Bournemouth Chabad rabbi: swastika hate ‘strengthens resolve to boost Jewish pride’
Rabbi Benzion Alperowitz's house was daubed with the Nazi symbol on Friday night - on Saturday a Jewish boy was shot with an air rifle, with the police treating it as a hate crime
A Chabad rabbi in Bournemouth whose house was daubed with a Swastika on Shabbat has told Jewish News that this antisemitic hate “only strengthens…[his] resolve…[to] find new and meaningful ways to boost Jewish pride within our community.”
Rabbi Benzion Alperowitz published a video on Sunday of himself next to the Nazi symbol, describing how “as I walked out the door together with my children on the way to go to shul, we turned around to discover that some cowards visited our home on Friday night and decorated it with this symbol.”
The police and CST have both been informed, and local volunteers from the community came around to remove the offensive graffiti.
Rabbi Alperowitz told Jewish News that when he and his wife saw the graffiti, “of course we were shocked at what we saw and we are concerned about that this meant about our family’s safety. However, seeing as there was no immediate danger, we resolved to not let this affect our Shabbat or let this instil fear in our children. We continued on to shul and went about our day as we regularly would, in the joyful spirit of Shabbat.
“Our kids were a little afraid as they saw our shock, but we took the opportunity to speak to them about Hashem who runs the world and how we are always in his hands. They seemed to be reassured by that and I heard my daughter telling other children in Shul how Hashem is always watching over us so there’s no reason to be afraid.”
Rabbi Alperowitz, who was born in Bournemouth, is an associate rabbi at the city’s Chabad, which was started many years ago by his parents, Rabbi Yossie and Chanie Alperowitz.
“Bournemouth is a wonderful place”, he told Jewish News.
“While we are deeply saddened by what happened, I do not believe this incident reflects the vast majority of people here. Over the past 24 hours we’ve been overwhelmed with kindness and support from both our Jewish community and our non-Jewish neighbours and friends. It’s this warmth and unity that truly represents our beautiful town. This incident cast a shadow over our town, but it will not define us. Bournemouth’s true character is kindness, unity, and light and we all have to make sure it shines brighter than ever.”
As well as a synagogue, Chabad of Bournemouth runs a wide range of initiatives, including the supply of kosher food through a deli and restaurant, adult education programmes and a children’s Hebrew school.
When asked whether he felt that Friday night’s incident might lead to the Chabad limiting its activities in some way, Rabbi Alperowitz told Jewish News that “on the contrary — this only strengthens our resolve. We have a responsibility to do even more, with greater Jewish pride and confidence. When faced with darkness, we must add more light. Limiting our activities would hand a win to those who wish to scare us. We will not allow that. Instead, we will find new and meaningful ways to boost Jewish pride within our community.”
He added that: “The police have immediately stepped forward to offer support and reassurance, coming around multiple times to check in and increasing patrol in the Jewish areas. They are currently holding investigations and we hope they will be able to get to the bottom of it.”
The incident also came as police informed the public of an attack on a Jewish boy on Saturday, in which he was shot with an air rifle.
A Dorset police spokesman said: “At around 2.50pm on Saturday August 23, two people were walking in Manor Road in Bournemouth when the driver of a car stopped and made offensive comments toward them.
“It is reported that one of the people — a teenage boy — was subsequently shot at with an air weapon. He sustained a minor head injury. Detectives are leading the investigation to locate the occupants of the vehicle and to establish the full circumstances of the incident. The incident is being treated as a hate crime.
“Officers are engaging with the local community and carrying out patrols in the area. We would encourage anyone with information or concerns to please speak with an officer.”
A CST spokesperson said: “CST is appalled by a series of anti-Jewish hate crimes in Bournemouth over the weekend. These are abhorrent acts of racism that are deeply distressing for the Jewish community and should alarm everybody. We are supporting the local Jewish community and working with Dorset police to assist their investigation. We urge anyone with information about these incidents to contact the police and CST.”
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