Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
$1
Friday, February 20, 2021
Vol. 96, No. 8
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
PORT DOC NAMED TO BIDEN PANEL
CUOMO ADMITS WITHHOLDING NURSING HOME DATA
PAGES 19-21
PAGE 3
PAGE 7
Hate hijacks Zoom event at Temple Beth-El
INDIANA BONES
Anti-Semitic material, words posted during Torah study BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Intruders hacked into a Temple Beth-El virtual Torah study event on Saturday morning and posted anti-Semitic material, according to temple officials. A joint statement from temple President Gary Slobin and Executive Director Stuart Botwinick said several unknown people logged onto the Shabbat Torah study Zoom event and proceeded to “post offensive material and speak words of hate.” The event was promptly ended, according to the statement, and the police were contacted to investigate. Officials said that they did not believe Temple Beth-El, located at 5 Old Mill Road in Great Neck, was a target for any specific reason other than its role as a Jewish temple. Officials said they are working with the temple’s security consultants to ensure incidents such as this do not occur again. “As Jews, we have experienced
hatred and antisemitism in our history … and we know the importance of being strong and proudly standing up in our own defense,” the statement said. “While there will always be moments of darkness and acts of evil, our community will stand united, strong and never bend to intimidation. May we continue to go from strength to strength.” Officials from the Nassau County Police Department’s 6th Precinct said that the investigation was ongoing. The hacking is the most recent in a string of anti-Semitic attacks on the North Shore. In December, the North Shore Hebrew Academy High School’s website was the victim of a hacking scheme featuring anti-Semitic images, messages and songs. Pictures and videos from StopAntisemitism.org, a nonprofit whose mission holds “antisemites accountable” and creates “conseContinued on Page 27
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GREAT NECK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Great Neck South Middle School students closely examined whale vertebrae, turtle shells, a seal skull and the antlers of a deer during their in-class and remote field trip.
777 Middle Neck Road hearing scheduled BY R OB E RT PELAEZ
review of a proposed mixeduse complex at 777 Middle Neck Road. The date of the Village of Great Neck of- hearing depends on when all ficials on Tuesday tentatively of the materials are received scheduled a hearing for archi- by the village from the projtectural, facade and site plan ect’s architectural group, H2M
Architects + Engineers. Village Building Superintendent Stephen Haramis said he expects the materials to be received potentially by the next board meeting on March 2, but defiContinued on Page 28
Support local journalism and get real news Subscribe to the Blank Slate Media newspaper of your community https://theislandnow.com/subscription/