Sign up for Weekday J and get the latest on what's happening in the Jewish Bay Area.

An 11-foot menorah used for a public Hanukkah ceremony at Oakland’s Lake Merritt was destroyed sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Pieces of the hanukkiah were cut up and tossed across the sidewalk and into the water. Antisemitic graffiti was left on the base where it once stood.

Chabad of Oakland had assembled and placed the menorah along the popular walk-and-run trail around the lake and hosted a lighting ceremony on Sunday, the fourth night of Hanukkah. Mayor Sheng Thao and other officials attended and delivered remarks.

Chabad leader Rabbi Dovid Labkowski said he received morning texts about the destroyed menorah, which was discovered by passersby, and went “rushing” to the scene.

“I felt outraged,” he said. “There’s crime in this city, but it just hit a new level of antisemitism. Together with the crime — it just makes you feel hopeless.”

The menorah was “cut up and just completely destroyed,” said Shulamis Labkowski, his wife. “It’s a very strong menorah, 350 pounds, so it took a lot of effort for people to destroy it.”

This is all that remains of the Chabad of Oakland’s Hanukkiah (menorah). The level of Antisemitism in Oakland is unbelievable. @SFJCRC pic.twitter.com/Op67LNgsJ0

— Tye Gregory 🇮🇱🏳️‍🌈🌉 (@TyeGregory) December 13, 2023

The rabbi described what he saw when he arrived on the scene.

“Remnants of metal and all the electrical work — all of the pieces, the candles were all over the floor. We looked around and found the sign and the main piece of the menorah thrown into the lake. We found different parts of the menorah stuck into the ground in different locations.”

He also found threatening antisemitic graffiti scrawled where the menorah once stood. It included curse words and said “we’re gonna find you” and “you’re on alert.”

Graffiti was also painted on surfaces nearby, stating “Free Palestine” in Arabic.

Northern California’s Jewish community has suffered a number of antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7 when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, prompting a military campaign by Israeli forces. On Oct. 10, someone threw rocks through synagogue doors in Fresno. Weeks later, a Jewish-owned ice cream shop in San Francisco was vandalized with pro-Palestinian graffiti and had its windows shattered. Graffiti has peppered the region, including messages defending Hamas and calling for violence.

Labkowski said he called the mayor’s office, which quickly sent the chief of staff and others to the scene. Chabad also contacted the Oakland Police Department, which is investigating the incident as a hate crime, police confirmed to J. The OPD said it believed the incident occurred just before 1:30 a.m.

This Hanukkah marks the 18th year that Chabad of Oakland has hosted its lighting ceremony at Lake Merritt, an auspicious number in Judaism connoting “chai,” or “life.”

The malicious destruction of a public menorah in Lake Merritt, #Oakland, accompanied by hateful graffiti, is just the latest example of rampant antisemitism tearing apart the Bay Area.

There's no room for debate; this vicious act unequivocally deserves condemnation. pic.twitter.com/0ZRWkawGNr

— JCRC Bay Area (@SFJCRC) December 13, 2023

“There’s so many good people living in this city,” the rabbi said. “Caring people and tolerant people and diverse people. We could do better, and we should do better.”

Also striking a defiant tone, he added, “As much as this is upsetting, we will rebuild. For every menorah they take down, we’re going to put up 10 menorahs.”

Toward that end, Chabad of Oakland will host another menorah lighting ceremony on Wednesday evening. They will either rededicate the destroyed one if it can be repaired, or light a new one. Chabad has launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs. Labkowski asked for a strong showing from the Jewish community at the event, which will take place at 7 p.m.

Chabad will also host a “Car Menorah Parade” beginning at 5:30 p.m. before the ceremony.