After outrage over the suspected antisemitic theft of a Jewish student dormitory’s mezuzah, New York University announced on Friday that the incident was not a hate crime and that the Jewish religious item had been returned to its owner.
Last Saturday, the mezuzah, which is affixed to the door frame of Jewish residences and rooms, was removed from its doorpost.
NYU Global Campus Safety Vice President Fountain Walker expressed “outrage” over the “disgraceful, antisemitic misconduct” in a statement last Sunday, warning that the administration took the offense seriously and was investigating the matter.
A description of a suspect was released, calling on anyone with information to speak up, but Walker noted tha it “would be even better if the perpetrator came forward on their own accord.”
The student voluntarily stepped forward, Walker updated on Friday, returned the mezuzah, and apologized.
Not an antisemitic theft after all
“The reported theft of a mezuzah from the doorpost of a student’s room in one of our residence halls turns out not to be an antisemitic incident or a hate crime,” said Walker. “The account given to Campus Safety and other University officials enables us to confidently conclude that, while problematic judgment was demonstrated, the investigation of the incident as an antisemitic incident should be closed. The NYPD, which responded promptly to the initial report, has been notified of the developments.”
Walker said that for reasons of privacy, the university could not provide all the details on the matter.
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) New York/New Jersey said on X/Twitter on Tuesday that it was relieved to learn that the incident was not antisemitic in nature, and thanked NYU for “acting quickly and treating this case with sensitivity.”