Brookline Jewish Grocery Vandalized in Antisemitic Hate Crime

A kosher grocery store in Brookline, Massachusetts, called The Butcherie, was targeted in an anti-Semitic hate crime when a brick marked with "Free Palestine" was thrown through its front window. The brick shattered a window displaying a map of Israel, and the attack occurred overnight with at least two masked assailants fleeing the scene after the act. Police and community leaders, including Brookline Police Chief Jennifer Paster and Governor Maura Healey, condemned the attack as a targeted message meant to intimidate the Jewish community, emphasizing that it was not merely vandalism but an act of hate. The local Jewish community and allies responded with a strong show of support, with over 150 people gathering to condemn the incident amid rising anti-Semitic rhetoric tied to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The Anti-Defamation League also denounced the act, calling it bigotry disguised as political protest, and Brookline police are actively investigating the incident as a hate crime while seeking public assistance. The Butcherie owner described the attack as heartbreaking and unprecedented in the store's history, underscoring the growing concerns about the manifestation of global conflicts on local communities.