Shocking devastation met the eyes of the morning worshipers when they arrived Monday at 6:30 am at the Boyan Chasidic synagogue in the central Israeli city of Modi’in Illit for the Shacharit service on the first day of Chanukah.
What they saw took their very breath away: Someone had broken into the vault in the Holy Ark and set fire to two of the Torah scrolls that were “safely” stored there in the synagogue sanctuary, the Kikar Shabbat news site reported.
Witnesses said they saw signs of bleach and gasoline.
The silver crowns from the Torahs were missing, as were the other silver items in the synagogue. A Torah scroll was charred.
“It is heartbreaking to see such a display. We’re trying to understand who could have done this,” said the caretakers of the synagogue who were quoted in the Hebrew-language Hadrei Hareidim news site.
When security personnel went to check CCTV footage they found the perpetrator/s had also stolen the DVR system, making it that much more difficult to identify and arrest the attacker/s.
A similar attack took place in Bnei Brak six months ago, according to Ynet, where four Torah scrolls were stolen and massive damage was wreaked on the prayer hall with security cameras ripped from the walls.
And, a similar attack was perpetrated a year ago on a synagogue in Jerusalem as well.
Police have opened an investigation.