Holocaust Memorial Vandalized In Lynn

By Julie Loncich, WBZ-TVMay 20, 2015 11:29 PM

LYNN (CBS) – Police are investigating a hate crime after vandals left large pieces of pork on a Holocaust Memorial. 

The discovery was made Tuesday evening by a woman visiting her family grave at the Pride of Lynn Cemetery. 

“The most horrible thing for me is that they thought about it. They went to the store and bought this piece of meat. They knew what the most painful thing could be,” says Natasha Soolkin of Swampscott. 

Soolkin says she became physically ill when she realized what someone had left behind. 

“They wanted to cause pain and they did,” says Soolkin. 

Pork is an offensive symbol in the Jewish faith. Rabbi Yossi Lipsker, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of the North Shore, calls it a hate crime. 

“It’s beyond belief that in today’s day and age, right here, right now we could see something that I can only characterize as vile,” says Rabbi Lipsker.

This cemetery is nearly 100 years old. Managers say nothing like this has happened in recent memory. The Rabbi says this act is not only cowardly, it’s unconscionable.

“That’s not acceptable today. That’s just simply not acceptable,” says Rabbi Lipsker. 

Members of the Jewish community will gather at the cemetery at 10 a.m. Friday.