ADL announced today that it is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for vandalizing the office of a Columbia University Teachers College Professor.

According to police and other reports, on November 28, two large swastikas and the word “Yid” (Jew in Yiddish) were found spray-painted just outside the Jewish professor’s office.

Leading up to, and in the aftermath of the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Shooting, ADL has expressed deep concern for a marked increase reported incidents of anti-Semitism and hate in the New York/New Jersey region.

“Within the past few weeks alone, we have received hundreds of calls reporting incidents to our offices,” said Evan R. Bernstein, Regional Director of ADL for New York and New Jersey.  “These incidents have included arson at religious institutions, anti-Semitic assaults, and hateful vandalism at multiple high schools and other public places across the region.”

“While we hope this reward facilitates the quick apprehension of the individual or individuals responsible for this most recent horrific incident, we all have a role to play in preventing these incidents from happening in the first instance.  We must continue to stand up and speak out against bigotry and hatred to avoid what we fear is becoming a grave and troubling normalization of hate in our region,” continued Bernstein.

“We would like to commend the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force for investigating this incident as a possible hate crime, and we echo the sentiments of Columbia Teachers College President Thomas Bailey, who has expressed outrage and horror at the use of this vile anti-Semitic symbol.  We cannot allow such brazen anti-Semitic hate to go unchecked in New York City, or anywhere else.”

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1(800) 577-TIPS.