Rotterdam Rabbi says process continues to fix vandalized graves

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Rabbi for one of the congregations that manages a Jewish Cemetary in Rotterdam that was vandalized says the process for fixing toppled headstones isn't as simple as turning them upright. He says it’s an extensive and expensive process. 

NEWS10's Zion Decoteau got a first-hand tour of the damage from Rabbi Rafi Spitzer of Congregation Agudat Achim in Niskyana.

“We're bringing in a monument specialist,” said Spitzer.“Most of the stones that have been pushed over have actually been separated from the base" he added. “All of them have to be fixed” the faith leader continued.

Since April Rotterdam police have been investigating the vandalized headstones. They still have no suspects or motive.

“One or two stones down maybe is people messing around in a cemetery. 80 stones down doesn't seem like that to me, but I'm just a Rabbi! What I can say for sure is that the Jewish Community feels this is a hate crime.”

Some of the bodies — the souls — laid in these graves have experienced the Holocaust firsthand. The rabbi says it was especially difficult for a family that came for a funeral earlier in the week to see the damage.

“I have to do this sensitive ceremony of love and of saying goodbye of leave-taking in the midst of this desecration. That says nothing is safe, nothing is sacred" Spitzer said standing in front of the freshly dug grave.

If there’s a silver lining, the Rabbi says the vandalism has united the hodgepodge of congregations running the cemetery. 

“There are no fences in between the sections. It's really just one thing, and the Jewish community of Schenectady and the Jewish community of the Capital Region really sees this as one attack” said Rabbi Spitzer.

Crunching the numbers It will cost about 2 to 500 dollars to fix each headstone. Times that by 80 to 100 headstones, and that sum out to upwards of $50,000 price tag.