Police search for Lincoln Road vandal

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A sacred symbol of the Jewish faith was left vandalized by someone Sunday.

The proud artist said it is a huge attraction on Miami Beach each December and attracts thousands of tourists, but Sunday, the larger-than-life menorah on Lincoln Road was hit by hate.

In front of the giant display of a giant shell-covered menorah and dreidel, the photo-ops turned into shocked reactions. "Oh, my God, isn't that terrible! How awful," said a passer-by.

Vandals scribbled "You killed Jesus" on a curb bordering the Hanukkah display.

But it's happened before, at the same spot and on the same display.

Eleven years ago, the menorah, created by Roger Abramson had arms broken off and a dreidel tossed to the side, and this dreidel isn't made of clay. It weighs about two thousand pounds.

The artist and rabbi of Chabad House hoped the latest act will not distract the Jewish faithful and others from the meaning of the holiday that's just a week away. "Vandalism is not going to bother us," said Rabbi Zev Katz. "We're going to keep on showing the meaning of Hanukkah."

A supply of oil that was only supposed to be enough to remain lit for one day, yet miraculously burned for eight days after an ancient Jewish temple had been desecrated. "The very first year of a really great deal of violence," noted Abramson, "and that's why we built it out of shells because it was actually torn down on two or three occasions."

Roger Abramson remains positive. He's grateful he only has a few shells to replace, and Miami Beach police once again have stepped up. The public noticed the vandal's work days before the festival of lights is to begin. He said, "The first ones to see it was a Muslim family who said to me what a terrible thing that people have to have such hatred."

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