By The Tablet Staff

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Local religious, politicians, and community leaders met in Hollis Hills on Tuesday to denounce the desecration of a large menorah at the Chabad House of Eastern Queens during the start of Hanukkah.

The incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 27, when the large menorah was knocked into the road, breaking most of its lights, according to Rabbi Yerachmiel Zalmanov, who reported the incident to the NYPD. 

Among those to draw attention to the possible hate crime were State Assembly members David Weprin and Nily Rozic; along with Senator John Liu, Councilman Barry Grodenchik, Rabbi Yerachmiel Zalmanov, Rabbi David Wise, Rabbi Gary Greene, and Rabbi Mayer Waxman. 

The group gathered at the traffic island at the intersection of Union Turnpike and 220th Street where the menorah was erected.

“Hanukkah is a time of peace and joy. No acts of vandalism or anti-Semitism will ever be tolerated,” Weprin said.

This isn’t the first time that a large menorah was vandalized at the site. A similar incident occurred twice in December 2014, when the menorah was torn down and many of its bulbs were shattered.

An NYPD official said an investigation is ongoing.