A kosher restaurant in Washington, D.C., was vandalized late Saturday night on the anniversary of the Nazi pogrom Kristallnacht, its founder said.
Char Bar founder Michael Chelst told Talkline Communications radio host Zev Brenner that by 10 p.m., at least one person had thrown a brick at the restaurant’s two street-facing impact windows. He said it was damaged.
As far as Chelst knows, Charles Bar was the only business in the area to be attacked.
Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (JFGW) shared a photo About a cracked window.
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the incident but has not yet classified it as a hate crime, Chelst told Brenner. Mr. Chelst acknowledged the “outburst” [sic] From the community. ”
Ron Halber, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC), told Chelst that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office was aware of the incident.
Chelst said cameras were installed on the sides and back of the building that housed Char Bar, but there were no cameras in the windows facing the street, leaving the restaurant open to suspect vandals. There was no footage to show. There are also cameras installed in the restaurant itself.
Charles Bar has been boarded up since then, but should reopen on Monday, Chelst told Brenner.
“This act of vandalism against a Jewish business is deeply disturbing in itself. Its timing with the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, raises even more questions and concerns. has arisen and must be answered,” JFGW said. said. “We demand a thorough investigation and the swift arrest of the culprit.” (Related: Michigan ‘white supremacist’ convicted of victimizing blacks and Jews, authorities say)
JCRC of Greater Washington also said “It was disgusting and heartbreaking,” he said, adding the timing of the incident “makes it even more disturbing.”
The organizations said they are working with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and local authorities to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We have reached out to the owners of Char Bar to express our full support. In the coming days, we will be announcing a series of ways for the community to show their support for this beloved restaurant.” JCRC of Greater Washington added.
According to Char Bar was founded in 2014. Website. Chelst said the restaurant hasn’t faced any serious problems in a long time, other than a few calls about people protesting in front of the restaurant.
Kristallnacht – “Kristallnacht” or “Night of Broken Glass” – occurred on November 9 and 10, 1938 in Germany and its annexed territories. Nazi shock troops and Hitler Youth disguised as civilians destroyed many Jewish shops, synagogues, and homes. According to Holocaust Encyclopedia. The pogrom, instigated by Nazi leaders, saw Jewish immigrants shoot dead German diplomats in retaliation for expelling the parents of a teenager and thousands of Polish Jews from the Reich. It was a reaction to that. At least 91 Jews died on Kristallnacht.
