Man suspended from job by his Jewish dad after ripping posters of Hamas hostages
A Brooklyn man seen tearing down posters of Israeli kids held by Hamas has been identified as a former magician – whose Jewish father suspended him from his gig at a user-experience company, according to a report.
Noah Schaffer, 41, and his wife, Kelly, were seen being berated by a Jewish woman after they removed the posters this past weekend at Brooklyn Bridge Park, the StopAntisemitism posted on X.
“This couple has been identified as spouses Kelly Ann and Noah Schaffer. Kelly has been previously arrested and works as a social worker for @UrbanDoveNY. Noah works as a strategist for @humanfactors,” the group wrote.
Noah’s dad Eric Schaffer informed his staff at his UX company Human Factors International in an email that he placed his son, an executive strategist at the firm, on unpaid leave for four months, the Daily Mail reported.
“As has been noted, Noah is my son. He is not an antisemite nor a supporter of Hamas. I can attest that he has not acted this way at any time during his whole life,” the elder Schafer wrote, according to the outlet.
“He now understands that his actions were reprehensible, he is deeply sorry and regretful. HFI’s senior management team and I personally, in no way condone his actions today. We are placing Noah on unpaid leave for the next four months,” he continued.
“This will give him time to learn more about his Jewish family history, reflect deeply, and make amends. And after this time we will review if he can rejoin the company,” Eric added, according to the email cited by the Daily Mail.
He also noted that “there is no shred of support for terrorism” in HFI.
“We are horrified about the attack on Israel and worry about all the hostages,” Eric wrote. “We in no way condone taking down posters or anything that reduces focus on their early and safe return.”
Noah had worked as a magician at the Upper West Side dinner show “A Taste of Magic” prior to getting his gig at HFI, according to the outlet.
A producer for the Upper West Side show confirmed to the Daily Mail that it was Noah in the video, adding that the performer had not worked with the group for a year.
“A Taste of Magic has no association with him or his recent actions, he hasn’t worked here for over a year,’ the producer told the outlet.
Kelly previously worked as a social worker at Urban Dove, a Big Apple school program for youths, according to the Daily Mail.
She was listed among protesters on the website “Antifa Watch” after being arrested during a protest against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Jersey, the outlet reported.
The Post has reached out to Urban Dove for comment.
The couple has deleted their social media and LinkedIn accounts.
The couple was identified along with Marc Louvet, 45, a financier who was captured on video being confronted after ripping down posters on the Upper East Side, where he lives with his Middle Eastern girlfriend, according to the Daily Mail.
Louvet had worked at the investment firm VanEck, which announced that it had placed him on leave.
“We have just now been made aware of a video confronting an employee who had just town down posters of Israeli hostages in Gaza,” the company said in a statement.
“In no way does VanEck endorse such actions or statements, nor do we support the actions of terrorists in any way. Such insinuations are hurtful and damaging to the company and our Israeli colleagues, family and friends,” it said.
“We are investigating the facts around the incident and our legal options concerning the employee whom we have placed on immediate leave and expect to terminate,” it added.
Louvet has not responded to the Daily Mail.
Several instances of New Yorkers ripping down similar posters across the city have surfaced.
An NYU student was seen tearing them down around campus downtown, while teenagers on the Upper East Side were seen doing the same on their walk home from school.
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