As Mahmoud Ahmadinejad descended on New York City, swastikas were marked on synagogues and other places in Brooklyn Heights, and fliers were placed on cars reading, “All Jews Die. Israel Land of Jews Die,” above a swastika and “SS.”

One rabbi laid the blame on the Iranian president, saying his visit inspires anti-Semites. “I think [his] visit here spurred hate-mongers to come out of the closet,” said Rabbi Aaron Raskin of Congregation B’nai Avraham.

“I have numerous congregants whose parents are survivors of the Holocaust. It brings up bad memories. [A swastika is] not just a symbol – it represents the deaths of 6 million people.”