By: Ilana Siyance
While Jews across the world celebrated the holy Sabbath holiday this weekend, someone placed a dead pig on the doorstep of a New Jersey rabbi’s home. As reported by the NY Post, police said they are looking into the incident as an apparent bias crime.
The dead pig was discovered at a rabbi’s Lakewood home at roughly 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. Investigators have determined that the animal was placed there by someone between midnight and 7 a.m., as per the police. “Currently, we are actively pursuing several leads and hope to bring this to a conclusion very soon,” Lakewood police Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith wrote in an email. There was no note attached to the frightful find, which was initially reported by the Lakewood Scoop. “At this time, it’s being investigated as a bias crime,” Lakewood police Lt. Leroy Marshall told The Post. As of midday Monday, no arrests had been made in the case. The Marshall declined to identify the rabbi, only saying that it occurred on Treetop Lane and that it is an ongoing criminal investigation. No injuries were reported at the residence, he added.
Greg Meyer, Lakewood’s police chief, told the Scoop that detectives from the agency were being assisted by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigations unit. “We will not tolerate such acts in our town,” said Chief Meyer. Lakewood Mayor Raymond Coles also confirmed that the incident is being investigated by police.
Officials from the Anti-Defamation League denounced the act in a statement on late Saturday. “The alleged incident that took place in Lakewood on Saturday is absolutely horrifying,” said Scott Richman, regional director for the ADL’s New York/New Jersey office. “No individual or group deserves to be targeted in this way. ADL has been deeply concerned by the rising tide of antisemitism in Ocean County, and this matter is no exception. We are thankful Lakewood PD is continuing their investigation.” The Anti-Defamation League of New York/New Jersey made a similar post on Twitter, adding that anyone with information regarding the crime, should please report it to authorities. Jews who observe kosher dietary restrictions are prohibited from eating pork, and the corpse is considered un-pure.
The FBI recently revealed that the number of anti-Semitic hate crimes in the United States increased 14 percent in 2019, with three lethal attacks against Jews and 953 hate crimes. Also, hate crimes against Jews comprised 62% of all hate crimes based on religion, up from 58% in both of the previous two years, the JTA reported.
