Saturday, October 31, 2026
West Hempstead’s Jewish community is standing strong after two troubling incidents occurred within days of each other last week — the discovery of swastikas carved into seats of a Long Island Rail Road train and an alleged attempt to set fire to a local synagogue.
On Oct. 20, commuters discovered swastikas on a number of seats on a train on the West Hempstead Branch. The following night, a Lakeview man allegedly attempted to start a fire at Young Israel of West Hempstead, on Hempstead Avenue, prompting his arrest on charges of arson and criminal mischief.
Although the incidents occurred in the same week, investigators have not established a connection between them.
Despite the incidents, synagogue leaders and residents emphasized the strength of the community and their determination to continue their daily activities. “Our community remains strong, united and undaunted,” Rabbi Joshua Goller, of Young Israel said. “Our doors will remain open and our services and programs will continue as scheduled.”
In a joint statement, Goller and synagogue President Tsvi Kushner thanked Nassau County police, the congregation’s security team, Community Security Service and community members for their response to the incident.
The leaders said the security protocols and partnerships developed over the years had worked as intended. The synagogue’s Security Committee remains in contact with law enforcement and is reviewing its procedures.
The congregation also expressed gratitude for messages of support from neighbors, elected officials and people of different backgrounds, emphasizing that the incident would not change the way the synagogue serves its members and surrounding community.
“We will not allow this incident to change who we are or how we serve out members and out neighbors,” Goller said.
According to Nassau County Fifth Squad detectives, officers responded at around 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 to a report of criminal mischief at Halls Pond Park, on Hempstead Avenue. A witness reported seeing a man break the side mirror of a Nassau County Police Department auxiliary vehicle and called 911.
While searching for the suspect, officers were stopped by another man who reported seeing someone starting a fire nearby.
Police responded to Young Israel, where they found Azzm Khan, 29, of Park Avenue, in Lakeview, and a bush burning near the synagogue.
Detectives said that Khan had taken a lawn sign, set it on fire and attempted to push it beneath the synagogue’s entrance door. Then, police said, he placed the burning sign in a bush, igniting it, before repeatedly kicking the synagogue’s entrance door, damaging it.
Police linked Khan to the damaged auxiliary vehicle and arrested him.
The congregation initially reported that an individual struck the synagogue’s glass entrance with a bat but could not break through. It also reported that the flames went out on their own, while police described a bush still burning when officers arrived.
Nassau County Legislator Olena Nicks said she had been communicating with law enforcement officials about the synagogue incident.
“I have been in direct contact with Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder,” Nicks said. “The Nassau County Police Department is working alongside other law enforcement agencies to protect the congregation and surrounding community.”
Khan was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree arson and fifth-degree arson. Police said he was arraigned on Oct. 22, in First District Court in Hempstead.
Authorities made no mention of a possible motive.
Responding to the previous incident on the West Hempstead Branch train, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority emailed a statement to the Herald. “After being discovered, the offensive vandalism on the back of one seat was rapidly removed,” it read. It did not specify how many seats were affected.
Nicks voiced her support for the West Hempstead Jewish community following the vandalism.
“There is no place for antisemitism in Nassau County or our nation, and we must make that abundantly clear whenever we are confronted with it,” she said. “Today and always, I stand proudly with West Hempstead’s vibrant and resilient Jewish community in denouncing this cowardly act of bigotry.”
West Hempstead resident Moshe Hill, who is running for a seat in the Nassau County Legislature, said the graffiti was part of a broader pattern of antisemitism. “We’re a strong community,” Hill said to Herald. “We don’t let these things harm us and hurt us and take us down. It only strengthens our resolve to grow and move forward.”
Both incidents remain under investigation. Nassau County police said there were no known active threats to the community at the time of their Oct. 22 statement.
