Who is Mayra Teke? New Jersey woman caught tearing down Israel flag at ‘Hummus Kitchen’

In a disturbing incident at ‘Hummus Kitchen’ on 1613 2nd Avenue in the Upper East Side (UES), a woman identified as Mayra Teke from Paterson, New Jersey, was caught tearing down Israel and U.S. flags, and further escalated the situation by throwing soup at an employee. The shocking act was recorded, capturing Teke giving a defiant middle finger when she realized she was being filmed.

Who is Mayra Teke?

Mayra Teke, the individual behind the unsettling incident at ‘Hummus Kitchen,’ has been identified as a resident of Paterson, New Jersey. The motive behind her actions remains unclear, but her behavior adds to a concerning trend of rising antisemitic incidents across the United States.

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The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported an unprecedented surge in antisemitic incidents in the two months following the deadly attack by Hamas militants on Israel. Between October 7 and December 7, the ADL recorded 2,031 antisemitic incidents nationwide, representing a 337% increase compared to the same period in 2022. Most incidents were linked to the Israel-Hamas war, including physical assaults, vandalism, verbal harassment, and rallies expressing antisemitic rhetoric.

Notably, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate incidents also spiked during this period, as reported by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The ADL’s data includes cases of vandalism and harassment targeting Jewish or Israeli businesses, reflecting a concerning trend that extends beyond individual acts like Teke’s.

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The disturbing incident at ‘Hummus Kitchen’ exemplifies the broader challenges faced by communities amid heightened tensions linked to international conflicts. Public officials and community leaders are urged to take decisive action to curb hate and prevent further violence in a climate marked by increasing incidents of bigotry.