Swastika Painted At Essex County Elementary School: Officials

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — An elementary school in Caldwell was the target of anti-Semitic graffiti last week, according to school administrators.

During the Monday meeting of the Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education, Superintendent James Heinegg confirmed that a swastika and other obscenities were painted on Lincoln Elementary School property, TAP Into West Essex reported.

Caldwell police were notified about the incident and school administrators also notified Congregation Agudath Israel and the Anti-Defamation League, Heinegg said.

The district offers “Holocaust education” to every grade level, he added.

ESSEX COUNTY ANTI-SEMITISM

Last week’s incident at Lincoln Elementary isn’t the only recent report of anti-Semitism in Essex County.

In late February, an explosion of anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered near South Mountain Reservation, prompting officials to label it a “disgusting” and “senseless” act that has no place in their community.

• See related article: ‘Disgusting’ Swastika Graffiti Appears At South Mountain Reservation

The Jewish Community Center in West Orange was one of the institutions that received a call during repeated, nationwide bomb threats this spring, including one made to the center on March 31.

• See related article: Support Grows For West Orange Jewish Center After National Wave Of Threats

A cane-wielding teen allegedly smashed up a menorah display hanging in Spiota Park during the third night of Hanukkah last December, South Orange police say.

• See related article: South Orange Menorah Display Trashed By Cane-Wielding Teen

In May of 2016, students at South Orange Middle School made an Instagram post that reportedly featured swastikas surrounded by Stars of David, symbols of the Soviet Union, raised middle fingers and a photo of the collapse of the World Trade Center, set against a background of the rainbow flag.

Another post on a different account – which received 89 likes – depicted two students standing on what appears to be a porch, looking into the distance with a caption reading “views from the schwitz,” presumably a reference to Auschwitz, The Village Green reported.

• See related article: South Orange, Maplewood Students Make Racist Instagram Posts

Older reports of anti-Semitism in Essex County include a 2011 incident in Cedar Grove, during which a swastika was carved into a playground slide in Community Park.

• See related article: Playground Vandalism Included Swastika

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Main Photo: Lincoln Elementary School (Patch file photo)