Man indicted on hate crime charges for vandalizing 3 UES synagogues, prosecutors say
Oct. 31, 2023, 4:42 p.m.
The Harlem man was charged with four counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime.
A Manhattan grand jury indicted a man on charges that he vandalized three synagogues and a Jewish volunteer ambulance, or hatzolah, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan over the summer.
Lenny De La Rosa, 21 of Harlem, was charged with four counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime. The alleged antisemitic acts took place in August.
“Synagogues are sacred places where everyone should be able to practice their faith safely,” District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. “We will not allow our houses of worship to be violated by hateful acts and we do not tolerate bias and antisemitism.”
At his arraignment, De La Rosa pleaded not guilty. Calls to his attorney were not immediately returned.
The three vandalized synagogues include Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on East 85th Street, Temple Shaaray Tefila on East 79th Street and Congregation Or Zarua on East 82nd Street. The Upper East Side Hatzolah on East 85th Street was also vandalized.
Those targeted by the graffiti said the indictment feels like justice.
“It calls a spade a spade,” said Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun. “The criminal mischief when it's antisemitism has a profound emotional effect on the community.”
De La Rosa was arrested on Aug. 16 when an officer recognized him after seeing his photo on an NYPD flier.
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