Thugs Damage Europe's Largest Jewish Cemetery; Vandalize 16 Graves, Steal 47 Metal Items in Berlin

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency website reports today (August 22, 2011) that vandals struck the Weissensee Cemetery in Berlin -- Europe's largest Jewish cemetery -- where they damaged 16 gravesites and stole 47 wrought-iron objects.

Renovations on some of the tombs had been completed as recently as last April. The stolen items are worth about $16,000.

"Theft in general is a serious offense," Grigory Kristal -- head of cultural affairs for the community -- said. "But to destroy graves at the Jewish cemetery demonstrates a lack of respect and lack of understanding of the past."

The cemetery is the subject of a recent award-winning documentary called "Im Himmel unter der Erde," or "In Heaven Underground."