A Yemenite synagogue in central Israel was desecrated, and many of the institute's prayer books were shredded, worshippers discovered just before Shabbat came in last week.
The synagogue, in Kadima-Tzoran in central Israel, opened for Shabbat services on Friday, but worshippers discovered the synagogue had been ransacked. The torah was thrown to the floor, and holy texts were torn apart and spread across the building.
The worshippers were provided a new place to pray on Friday evening.
Religious Services Ministry Director-General Yehuda Avidan spoke on Saturday with Kadima-Zoran local council head Karen Green and with the head of the local religious council, Ofer Guetta, to provide immediate assistance to the synagogue’s worshippers.
Guetta said, “This is a building allocated to the community by the local council. Once we received the information on Friday evening, I arranged an alternative structure for the synagogue’s worshippers.”
Condemning the vandalism of a Yemenite synagogue in central Israel
The incident has been widely condemned, and Israel Police have begun investigations into the vandalism to identify the culprits.
“The shocking sights of Torah scrolls and holy books thrown and desecrated on the synagogue floor are horrifying and remind us of dark periods in Jewish history,” Religious Services Ministry Director-General Yehuda Avidan said on Saturday night. “Such a despicable act cannot be tolerated in the Jewish state, and it constitutes a crossing of a moral and ethical red line.”
“The heart breaks at the sight of Torah scrolls and holy books lying in disgrace on the floor in the State of Israel. This is a vile crime that recalls dark periods in Jewish history, and it has no justification. Harming a holy place is crossing a red line and harming the soul of every Jew,” Avidan shared. “We extend our support to religious council head Ofer Guetta, council head Karen Green, the synagogue’s gabbayim and worshippers, who acted responsibly and swiftly on behalf of the community in this difficult hour. The ministry will remain in close contact with the religious council to assist in repairing the damage and restoring the dignity of the synagogue.
“We trust Israel Police to bring the perpetrators to justice with full severity. We will not rest until those responsible for this heinous act face punishment.”