Reform Jewish synagogue vandalized in Ra'anana for 3rd time
Six of structure's windows broken, black Star of David and wording "It's begun" written on walls; police launch investigation.
By JONAH MANDELRaanana Synagogue 311(photo credit: courtesy)
The Kehilat Ra’anan synagogue in Ra’anana was vandalized overnight Wednesday, when unknown persons shattered six windows – covering two sides of the synagogue – with stones, and spray-painted a black Star of David below the words “It has begun” on one of the exterior walls.Police have opened an investigation into the incident.RELATED:Vandals steal thousands of shekels from vending machinesMen who vandalized synagogue, stole Torah get probationMayor Nahum Hofri vehemently condemned the “thuggery” and stressed that such a deed does not characterize Ra’anana, “a city of tolerance and exemplary coexistence.”The city respects all streams of Judaism, he said.While not being the first of its kind, this event is seen by the Reform Movement as a worrisome development.“This is the third time in the past year that the synagogue is vandalized,” Rabbi Gilad Kariv, head of the Reform Movement in Israel, told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.“In the past we refrained from drawing media attention to such attacks, which we thought were isolated incidents committed by wild adolescents.There were also no security cameras on the site, but that will probably change now,” Kariv said.
