New Yorkers have come together to support Effy’s Cafe, a popular American-Israeli restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, days after it was defaced with graffiti depicting a slew of antisemitic messages.
The restaurant’s manager, Ben Zara, arrived at work on the morning of March 17 to find hateful messages scrawled on to the property, located at 104 West 96 St., between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. Red paint, which seemed to depict blood, was splashed on the storefront gates, alongside messages that read “Form line here to support genocide,” and “free Gaza” on the sidewalk in front of the cafe.
The graffiti was drawn in red, black and green paints, which are also the colors of the Palestinian flag.
According to the West Side Rag, police said the incident is under investigation and the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force has been notified.
Supporting Effy’s Cafe as a community
The next day, March 18, a group of approximately 20 New Yorkers gathered at the vandalized restaurant to help with clean-up efforts, some of them frequent customers of Effy’s, while many others were there to stand in solidarity against antisemitism. Using baking soda and other cleaning supplies, they immediately got to scrubbing the hate off the sidewalk cement and gates.
Hindy Poupko, senior vice president for community strategy and external relations of the UJA Federation of New York, was there when people were cleaning up and described what she experienced. When she saw the images of the hateful messages circulating in social media neighborhood groups starting on Sunday, she was taken aback.
“Sunday evening was quite chilling,” Poupko said. “Many people were quite concerned about what had taken place. What was gratifying, however, was that the next day, there were volunteers who were already on scene cleaning up the paint and the graffiti, which is always incredibly heartwarming to see New Yorkers of all backgrounds showing up in that way.”
It was not only the New Yorkers’ desire to pitch in and remove the hate, but their eagerness to stop in and support the local business.
“What was pretty remarkable is that throughout the day yesterday, Effy’s Cafe, which is not typically bustling on a Monday afternoon when people are at work, had lines out the door,” Poupko said. “Steady streams of every-day New Yorkers who wanted to show support for the cafe and help ensure the neighboring Jewish community is still safe and we’re not alone.”
State Assembly candidate Micah Lasher was one of those New Yorkers who stopped inside Effy’s to enjoy a meal with Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.
Yesterday, Lasher posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Brunch with Mark Levine at Effy’s on W. 96th Street after it was targeted for being a Jewish establishment. We came to show solidarity and support. To call this incident what it was — antisemitic hate. To demand that Albany expand the hate crimes law. And to make clear that New York will never be a place where this is tolerated, condoned or chalked up to reasonable political discourse.”
Brunch with @MarkLevineNYC at Effy’s on W. 96th Street after it was targeted for being a Jewish establishment. We came to show solidarity and support. To call this incident what it was — anti-Semitic hate. To demand that Albany expand the hate crimes law. And to make clear that… pic.twitter.com/a0f2tFDh6Q
— Micah Lasher (@MicahLasher) March 18, 2024
Antisemitism in NYC
Poupko noted that antisemitism in New York has been on the rise since Oct. 7, when the Hamas terror group brutally attacked Israel, leading to the current war in Gaza.
“Since Oct. 7, there have been 326 incidents of antisemitic vandalism – graffiti and 39 anti-Jewish assaults,” she said. “So this is also happening in an atmosphere of increased antisemitism, of increased bias incidents against the Jewish community, which is why it’s incredibly important that when these hateful incidents occur, that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other New Yorkers and make it clear that these people do not represent New Yorkers.”
Meanwhile, at nearby Riverside Park, the hate continued. An array of anti-Israel messages were spray painted on a number of cement road blocks. The vandalism included messages that read “Free Palestine,” “F— Israel” and “Israel is ethnic cleansing.”
New Yorkers shared their anger about the vandalism and support for Effy’s Cafe across social media.
“I hope cameras caught the person who did this,” one New Yorker said.
Another Upper West Side resident said, “I’m so sorry to see this. Cowardice and idiocracy is everywhere. Stay strong, you are supported by your community in the face of hatred. #UWSTogether.”
Read more: Brooklyn Man Arrested for Flag Burning
