Chief rabbi of Ra’anana condemns attack on shul
Vandalism at Reform synagogue prompts call for ‘brotherhood’
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Vandals broke windows and spraypainted graffiti April 14 at the Progressive synagogue Kehilat Ra’anan in the town of Ra’anana.
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April 27, 2011
JERUSALEM — Ra’anana Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Peretz added his name to a letter condemning an attack on a Reform synagogue in the central Israel city, bringing to 14 the number of Orthodox rabbis and public figures who signed the document.
The World Union for Progressive Judaism also condemned the April 14 attack in Ra’anana, which is a sister community with United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ.
It is the third time Kehilat Ra’anan has been vandalized in the past year.
Six of the synagogue’s windows were smashed in by large rocks and a black star of David was spraypainted on the wall above the words “It has begun.”
City officials and the Reform umbrella group both indicated that the vandalism pointed to Jewish religious extremists, though police said they had no suspects.
In a statement released April 15, the World Union said that it “condemns all violence that is motivated by hatred and religious extremism. As we approach the season of Jewish freedom, we call on all government and NGO agencies to show their abhorrence of these wanton senseless acts, we are confident that government leaders will take the lead in this condemnation, and we call on Orthodox leaders throughout Israel to also show their disgust at this destructive inter-Jewish hatred.”
Ra’anana Mayor Nahum Hofree condemned what he called the “bullying,” saying the attack “does not characterize Ra’anana’s people. This is a city of tolerance and exemplary coexistence.”
The letter from Orthodox rabbis and leaders was initiated by Rabbi Seth Farber, the founding rabbi of the Orthodox Kehilat Netivot in Ra’anana and founder and director of ITIM: The Jewish Life Information Center.
“Although we have significant ideological differences with the Reform community, there is no place for violence,” the letter read in part. “Jewish tradition is a tradition of love, brotherhood, and peace.”
Last week, UJC MetroWest president Gary O. Aidekman issued a statement saying the organization was “truly dismayed by the hateful vandalism.”
In another incident of violence against a non-Orthodox synagogue, youths threw rocks at worshipers leaving a Masorti synagogue in Netanya on the Sabbath eve of April 15. The youths appeared to be Orthodox, eyewitnesses said, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The youths reportedly tried to enter the building but stopped when they saw security cameras. The building has been attacked twice in the past.
No worshipers were injured in the attack. A complaint was filed with police.
“As the non-Orthodox communities continue to grow, the ugly face of Jewish fundamentalism in Israel is revealed,” Yizhar Hess, executive director and CEO of the Masorti movement in Israel, told the Post. “Some people just can’t deal with the fact that there is a different Judaism. These people are hateful Jews who know nothing about Rabbi Akiva’s principle of loving your neighbor as you love yourself.”
Comments
jimmie c boswell
April 27, 2011
i have a very, serious question here. why is HaShem G-D authorizing attacks on synagogues? are we looking at this, in the wrong direction here? in assuming it is because, we are always right. and we can never do, no wrong. when TheTorah does not, support that kind of false ideology. are we all ignoring, G-D again! here in TheTorah today?
cause there is more about and they did nothing but evil, in TheEYES of HaShem than they did good. could it be, that HaShem is trying to tell us something here in TheTorah still today? and that we’re all just not paying attention, to HaShem in TheTorah now! like were supposed to. is not HaShem G-D TheVery Jealouse G-D, when we start not paying attention to HIM?
jimmie c boswell
April 27, 2011
HaShem G-D is in charge for a full six days here in TheTorah. before he always puts, adam and his mate in charge for the last Day of days.
there has got to be a reason, HaShem is trying to get our attention back to HIM, here in TheTorah today. and HE is in charge, of all the antisemites too. and they shall do as HE commands them too.
and i have no doubt, HE can command them, to also try get our hard headed attention. HaShem is in charge of both the light and the dark. so if HE is angry at us, lets not try and make HIM any argrier than HE apparently already is. at this whole world, here again in TheTorah now. i means wasn’t the last two, Torot times we tried this same ignoring HIM enough? when we should know better, than to keep making the same not here in TheTorah mental mistakes, and expect a different physical response commanded to happen.
i mean if this whole world and their grandmother, did not get away with mentally rejecting HaShem, twice before in TheTorah. HE ain’t going to let us all get away with it this time here in TheTorah either.
jimmie c boswell
April 27, 2011
and if i did not get away, from hiding from HaShem G-D here in TheTorah again. just because the more subtle than any other not here in TheTorah beast of the fields said so to your grandmother. then you are not going to get away, with your mentally tring to hide from G-D, here in TheTorah agains too.
and i am determined to not get my globally behind warmed Personally by G-D. any more for any of you! or your also so speeecial grandmother any more. for trying to not be here in TheTorah again.
for gosh sakes! you all hiding in plain sight, from G-D here in TheTorah again. HE knows where you all are, mentaly only with your pretending to not be here in TheTorah today.
jimmie c boswell
April 27, 2011
and just how did HaShem, catch me so fast? in an alleged better hiding place than you all are, here in TheTorah.
oh yeah! that right, G-D told me where i was going to be hiding from HIM. and where HE was going to catch me on the run. fourty on years, before HE caught me again. and i am so embarassed i did not see it coming. even after HE, had told me, i ran right strait into HIM while was looking back to see if HE was there. by the time i realize HE was right in front of me it was too late to panic in any other direction.