Torah scrolls were vandalized at a Jerusalem synagogue. Image by Facebook

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Vandals broke into a Jerusalem synagogue and tossed four Torah scrolls on the floor.

The break-in took place in the Kiryat Yovel neighborhood on Monday night. Worshippers arrived on Tuesday morning and found the Torah scrolls, prayer books and other Jewish artifacts strewn all over the floor.

A hole was cut in the side of the ark that housed the Torah scrolls in order to remove them.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The synagogue, called Siah Yisrael and populated mainly by immigrants from France, does not have any security cameras.

The attack was condemned by both of Israel’s chief rabbis and other religious leaders, the president and prime minister and lawmakers.

The vandalism comes days after attacks on two synagogues in the central coastal city of Netanya. The Netan Ya Reform congregation was flooded on Saturday night when unknown vandals forced open a window and placed a hose through it with the water running.

The water was ankle deep throughout the building when it was discovered on Sunday, and had ruined prayer books, furniture and building infrastructure, according to the Jerusalem Post.

On Saturday night, prayer books were burned at the McDonald International Shul in Netanya, an Orthodox synagogue on McDonald St., and the words “Hail Satan” were painted on a wall.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount