Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Orthodox Jews May Have Torched Israeli Synagogue in Attempt to Intimidate Conservatives

The Jerusalem Post website reports today that unknown assailants torched a Conservative synagogue in Arad, Israel on Monday night (February 8, 2010) -- a year after a failed attempt to burn the shul.

No one was hurt in the fire, which scorched the outside of the building, but was extinguished before it damaged the synagogue within.

The torching follows an attempted break-in at the synagogue last week, when unknown assailants managed to drill a hole in the wall before fleeing. On February 8, someone returned to the scene and poured flammable liquid in the hole before starting the blaze.

The Shira Hadasha Synagogue -- the only non-Orthodox Synagogue in Arad -- is one of 60 Conservative shuls in Israel. Yitzhar Hess, general manager of the Conservative Movement in Israel, called it "a miracle" that there wasn't more damage and that no one was hurt. He added, "the Conservative Movement won't give in to violence."

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