Hove memorial vandalised days after Chief Rabbi’s visit

“No matter how many times they try to intimidate us, it will not work. They have destroyed our memorial 20 times, and each time, we build it back again. We will never let the haters win.”

The Chief Rabbi and Lady Valerie Mirvis had been in Brighton to dedicate the synagogue at the Brighton & Hove Jewish Community centre (BNJC), when they took the time to also visit the memorial.

The Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and Adam Ma'anit at the Hove memorial for October 7 (Photo: courtesy of Adam Ma'anit)[Missing Credit]

After his visit, the Chief Rabbi expressed his admiration on social media, saying that he was "in awe of the extraordinary dedication” of the Jewish community and their supporters in Brighton and Hove, “who have stood in Palmeira Square every day to honour those who were killed on October 7th, and in solidarity with the families of the hostages still held by Hamas”.

This latest incident of vandalism was reported to Sussex Police as a hate crime as the ribbons are owned by a Jewish communal group.

Previously, the ribbons were targeted by far-right vandals when a link to an antisemitic website was scrawled on the back of them.

Since October 7, Jewish residents in Brighton and Hove have reported a spike in antisemitic incidents, with verbal abuse and graffiti targeting Jews.

Teenager Mason Reynolds Has just been jailed for eight years for planning a terrorist attack on a synagogue in the area.