Community members gathered at Shelter Rock Jewish Center in Roslyn on Sunday to show support after the center was a victim of a hate crime.

On Aug. 28, the synagogue erected a banner on the front of the property stating, “We Stand With Israel” and “Bring Them Home Now.”

When the center’s custodian arrived to the center on Aug. 31, he saw that red paint splashed across the banner, posts, and grass in front of the sign.

The Nassau County Police were called and responded quickly. They classified the incident as a hate crime.

“It was a lot of sadness and hurt that we would find intolerance and hate in our own neighborhood and on our own doorstep,” Claudio Kupchik, rabbi at the Shelter Rock Jewish Center, said. “It was very disappointing, it was sad, but that’s the reality that we live in the world today.”

The vandalism occurred during Rabbi Claudio Kupchik’s first week at the center. He said the center president called him and told him about the vandalism during Shabbat.

“We decided to call a gathering of support on solidarity and against hate and intolerance,” Kupchik said. “We had a very nice turnout, about 100 to 250 people.”

Kupchik said the community support displayed a message of unity, harmony, and solidarity.

“I’m unequivocally pro-Israel,” U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi said at the gathering.

Suozzi said it is sad to see something like this happen in the community and hopes a new sign is put up by Rosh Hashanah.

Kupchik said the Jewish center will be erecting a new sign, but did not give a date.

“People may not like what we believe. We may not like what other people believe, but we need to respect each other and we need to be able to live in mutual respect despite our differences because this is what America is all about,” he said.

Kupchik said out of this hate crime, he is trying to build a community of tolerance and inclusiveness. By doing this and opening the doors to dialogue among neighbors, he said he hopes hate crimes like this don’t happen again.

“As we get close to the new year in the Jewish calendar, we pray and hope for more understanding and more respect and tolerance in our society and hopefully the new year will bring peace to our community and the world,” Kupchik said.

The center will install new cameras where the sign was located to better prepare for potential vandalism. Kupchik said the police will be stepping up their presence.