Flyers On Jewish Residents' Lawns Being Investigated In 1 Bergen County Town, Rabbi Says

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A rabbi at a local congregation said that he's communicating with police about an investigation into flyers thrown onto lawns of Jewish people in Wyckoff.

Rabbi Chanocha Kaplan of Chabad of Northwest Bergen County posted on social media, "We write to you with a heavy heart. This week, offensive posters and letters supporting terrorism in Gaza were thrown onto the lawns of Jewish homes right here in Wyckoff. These acts of hate, intimidation, and vandalism are unacceptable and have no place in our community or anywhere."

The rabbi said that Chabad is in communication with Wyckoff police, who have launched a formal investigation.

The rabbi will also meet with the mayor and Town Council "to ensure that these acts are addressed with the seriousness they deserve. Our towns must remain a safe and respectful place for all," the post said.

On Oct. 7, 2023, the terrorist group Hamas killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, including more than 300 at a music festival, and kidnapped other adults and children from their homes, ultimately killing some, including a baby. During the fighting in Gaza since that time, more than 50,000 Palestinian adults and children have been killed, international media agencies have reported.

"Let us be clear: support for terrorism and acts of hate will not be tolerated," the rabbi said.

"Every good deed, every act of unity and love pushes back the shadows. Let us respond not with fear, but with courage, unity, and unwavering faith," said the post, signed by the rabbi and his wife Mimi.

Police Statement

On Tuesday, the Wyckoff police said in a statement, "Between Sunday April 27, and Tuesday April 29, several residents of a neighborhood in the Sicomac area reported finding papers strewn throughout the area. The papers contained handwritten remarks that were politically charged and divisive in nature. The papers were found both in the public roadway and on private properties.

"The police department is investigating and making efforts to identify the source of the papers. If anyone has any information, please contact the detective bureau at 201-891-2121 or detectives@wyckoffpolice.org."