Timeline of attacks against synagogues in Israel documents anti-Semitic attacks and vandalism against synagogue buildings and property in Israel. Vandalism of synagogues is not uncommon in Israel.
1986
- June
In Tel Aviv on June 11, the Bnei Benjamin synagogue was torched and swastikas were daubed on the walls of the Great Synagogue. On June 16, vandals rampaged through the Chidushei Harim yeshiva destroying tefillin, prayer books, bibles and copies of the Talmud, scrawling "down with the black parasites" on the walls. In Jerusalem, a Chabad synagogue was ransacked and the Torah scroll was slashed and hundreds of prayer books were destroyed. The violence was instigated in retaliation for the destruction of multiple bus shelters by religious Jews with one group calling itself Citizens Against Zealotry threatening to burn a synagogue for every bus shelter destroyed. MK Rabbi Avraham Yosef Shapira declared that "only in an anti-Semitic country could such acts take place." Knesset Speaker Shlomo Hillel said the synagogue arson was reminiscent "of the worst experience of the Jewish people." Israeli President Chaim Herzog called the synagogue attacks "domestic anti-Semitism."
1997
- October 7
In Jerusalem, vandals daubed swastikas and "damned wicked ones" at the entrance to the Harel Reform synagogue.
- October 12
In Kfar Sava, a Conservative synagogue was vandalised on Yom Kippur and had the mezuzah ripped off the doorpost.
2000
- June
In Beersheba, the Masorti Eshel Avraham Synagogue had its windows smashed. In Jerusalem, a blaze at the Conservative Kehillat Ya'ar Ramot synagogue damaged the main sanctuary, furniture and prayer books. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak called it "an awful act that causes every Jew to shudder" adding that "it is seven times more shocking when it occurs in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the State of Israel".
2003
- April
In Bnei Brak, six synagogues were set on fire; a seventh was sprayed with graffiti.
- May 22
In Jerusalem, the Mevakshei Derech Reform synagogue had its windows smashed.
2005
- January 26
in Beer Sheva, swastikas and "Death to the Jews, Heil Hitler" in Russian were painted on the wall of a synagogue.
- May 21
In Nazareth Illit, the Bnei Akiva synagogue was ransacked and prayer books desecrated and burned.
2006
- February 11
In Tel Aviv, considerable damage was caused to the Geulat Yisrael synagogue in the Shenkin neighbourhood. Windows were smashed and walls daubed with "If we don't march in Jerusalem – you won't walk in Tel Aviv".
- March 5
In Petah Tikva, swastikas and "death to Jews" was sprayed on at a synagogue.
- May 4
In Petah Tikva, approximately 20 swastikas are sprayed on the Holy Ark, Torah scroll and walls of the Great Synagogue.
2007
- March 10
In Haifa, Nazi swastikas and a drawing of a nude woman were scrawled on the wall.
- September 30
In Haifa, the sukkah of the Neve David synagogue was burnt down and prayer books were sprayed with "death to religious people". A witness said the culprits gave the Nazi salute while calling "Heil Hitler".
- November 7
In Bnei Brak, the Biala synagogue on Ezra Street had its property smeared in feces and doused with wine.
2008
- May 7
In Bnei Brak, a Holy Ark was sprayed with satanic graffiti and gasoline poured on the floor. Police said three other local synagogues had also been targeted.
2009
- March 8
In Haifa, the Neve Zion synagogue was set ablaze. A week earlier on March 3, the Heichal Shimshon synagogue in the same neighbourhood was set on fire and the Holy Ark and prayer books were damaged.
- August 30
In Haifa, the Naveh Shaanan synagogue was subject to an arson attack.
- November 8
In Ashkelon, vandals broke into the N’vei Dekalim synagogue damaging furniture, prayer books and alms boxes.
2010
- April 17
In Ajami, swastikas and Palestinian flags were drawn on the walls of the Beit El synagogue.
- June 23
In Tiberias, intruders smashed every window and ripped out antiquated metal bars of a historic building serving as a Chabad-Lubavitch center. $5,000 in cash was stolen along with silverware and computers.
2011
- March 25
In Netanya, the Reform Beit Yisrael synagogue was subjected to stone-throwing attacks by Haredi youths which continued for at least three consecutive weeks.
- April 14
In Raanana, a Reform synagogue had its windows shattered and was sprayed with graffiti for third time in recent months.
- October 8
In Jaffa, a synagogue was firebombed after two Arab cemeteries were vandalised.
- October 12
In Safed, "Death to Jews" was scrawled on four synagogues.
- December 30
In Ashdod, a synagogue wall was sprayed with swastikas and "Death to Haredim".
2012
- January 15
In Hemed, Torah scrolls were thrown on the floor and covered with mud.
- May 28
In Hamat Gader, the ancient synagogue mosaic was smashed and daubed with graffiti in protest of archeological digs at ancient gravesites. The head of the Eastern Galilee and Golan region of the Antiquities Authority said the vandalism "destroyed one of the most magnificent synagogues in the country," and that "the damage is irreversible, it's doubtful we will be able to see the mosaic like it was before... The mosaic floor was here for 1,600 years until these vandals destroyed so many years of history.”
- June 22
In Maor, vandals sprayed praise for Mohammed and Muslim prayers on the walls of a synagogue.
2013
- May 26
In Haifa, a synagogue was sprayed with swastikas, anti-Semitic graffiti and drawings indicating devil worship.
- May 29
In Bat Yam, windows were smashed and swastikas were daubed on the walls of the Ha’Ohel synagogue. The warden, who suffered a panic attack, said "for how long must we feel that we are still in exile? This is the fourth time in a month." A month earlier crosses and the phrase "brothel" was scrawled on the walls.
- July 30
In Netanya, ten Torah scrolls were burnt by a thief attempting to cover his tracks in a synagogue on Nordau Street.
- August 23
In Ramat Eshkol, inside a synagogue belonging to Bnei Akiva, the Torah scroll had been flung to the ground and graphic images sprayed on the walls.
- December 31
In Tel Aviv, Nazi slogans and swastikas are spray-painted at the Gr"a synagogue.
2014
- January 10
In Ezer, vandals broke off the Torah Ark door and tore the Torah scrolls which had been thrown on the floor.
- January 30
In Raanana, a Reform synagogue was sprayed with quotes from the writings of Moses Maimonides on heretics.
- May 12
In Jerusalem, the entrance sign to the Masorti Moreshet Yisrael congregation was daubed with swastikas.
- November 30
In Tel Aviv, the words "In a place where the Jewish State bill will be legislated books will be burned," were painted on the wall of the International Synagogue. Believing that left-wing activists were behind the attack, the rabbi called it a "clear act of anti-Semitism."
2015
- May 31
In Ra'anana, anti-Semitic graffiti was daubed on the Ahavat Reim Synagogue. The vandals also desecrated Mezuzah parchments by using their own blood to paint crosses and swastikas on them before plastering them on the walls of the synagogue. The police chief called the incident a "heinous desecration of religious symbols."
- July 23
In Jerusalem, the Pitchei Olam synagogue on King George Street was daubed with swastikas and the curtain of the Holy Ark was burnt.
- July 26
In Bnei Brak on Tisha B'Av, the Beis Chabad was vandalized and the Holy Ark was set alight.
- November 25
In Arad, a severed pig's foot was hung near the entrance of a recently inaugurated Haredi synagogue.
2016
- January 12
In Tel Aviv, anti-Semitic graffiti were scrawled on the walls of a synagogue in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood.
- July 6
In Bnei Brak, a synagogue was set on fire damaging prayer books.
- October 13
In Katamon, in a repeat attack, black crosses were sprayed on the external walls of an Iranian Orthodox synagogue during Yom Kippur.
- November 24
In Raanana, a Reform synagogue was sprayed hate graffiti and death threats were left in envelopes on its doorstep held down by a knife addressed to prominent Reform leaders.
- December 12
In Arad, anti-religious activists stormed the central Ashkenazi synagogue disturbing prayers of the Hasidic community. A speaker at an emergency meeting called by MK Yaakov Litzman said "It is inconceivable that something that would not be done to Jews in enemy states, such as Iran, should be done to Jews here in Israel." The incident led to tens of thousands of people protesting in Bnei Brak, Jerusalem and Ashdod.
2017
- April 12
In Petah Tikva, a swastika is sprayed next to a synagogue on the first day of Passover.
- May 20
In Meah Shearim, the Chabad synagogue was trashed and had various liquids smeared over the walls.
- June 3
In Petah Tikva, two synagogues, (one on Sokolov Street, the other on Usishkin Street), were sprayed with swastikas.
- June 21
In Nahlaot, swastikas were daubed inside a synagogue next to the Holy Ark.
2018
- March 8
In Ramat Beit Shemesh, black paint was poured all over the floor of the women's section and pamphlets containing speeches given at a recent prayer rally were ruined.
- May 15
In Netanya, a Masorti synagogue was targeted four times having its windows smashed and leaving members feeling scared and vulnerable. One said "we came to Israel to escape persecution and to practice and live our Jewish faith. It is hard to believe that this is happening to us in Israel.
- August 14
In Petah Tikvah, the Mikdash Moshe synagogue was vandalized with Nazi graffiti.
- September 12
In Rehovot, eggs were thrown on multiple occasions at women outside the Kretshnif synagogue.
- November 3
In Beit Shemesh, the Beis Mordechai synagogue had its mezuzah ripped off and windows smashed.
- November 9
In Ramat Hasharon, a pig's head was hung over the entrance to the Sukkat Shaul synagogue. MK Moti Yogev said his father "would not have believed he would see such an anti-Semitic sight in the State of Israel."
- November 26
In Ashkelon, two synagogues were daubed with satanic symbols in the space of a month.
2019
- January 26
In Netanya, "Hail Satan" was sprayed on the walls of the Orthodox MacDonald synagogue and prayer books were burnt. The same night, Reform congregation Natan-Ya was flooded, damaging the structure, furniture and prayer books. The rabbi commented that "if this would happen in the States there would be a much bigger outcry."
- January 28
In Kiryat Yovel, furniture and prayer books were damaged at the Siach Yisrael synagogue and the Torah scrolls were thrown to the floor and doused in acid. Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon said "I've never seen something like this. Four Torah books thrown on the ground, they simply defiled them... Such a thing can't be in Jerusalem, in the land of Israel. We know these solely from dark periods in the Diaspora." Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Aryeh Stern referred to it as a "heinous crime similar to what was witnessed at the hands of the wicked Nazis during the Holocaust." Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said "It's hard to believe how such a despicable, anti-Semitic pogrom could happen in a synagogue, here in the land of Israel." The French Ambassador expressed her shock by saying "The vandalization of the hall in memory of Jonatan Sandler, one of the victims of the anti-Semitic terror at Toulouse in 2012, is a disgrace."
- May 10
In Bnei Ayish, a synagogue was set on fire and sprayed with graffiti.
- May 15
In Lod, vandals caused widespread damage to an Indian-Jewish congregation.
- June 9
In Bnei Brak on Shavuot night, a pack of delinquent Haredi youths stormed the Dorog Bais Medrash injuring 20 hasidim and causing considerable damage by letting off a fire extinguisher. They also targeted the Antania synagogue and the Machnovka Bais Medrash, stealing items and breaking fixtures in every building.
- June 11
In Bnei Brak, four Torah scrolls were stolen from the Tiferes Shimon synagogue and other holy books were left on the floor.
- July 28
In Ashkelon, an Ethiopian synagogue received a threatening letter with swastikas.
- August
In Rosh Haayin, an arsonist was arrested for targeting three synagogues, including two in Petah Tikvah where several Torah scrolls were burned at the Beilinson Hospital.
- August 7
In Bat Yam, anti-religious graffiti was sprayed on the wall of Heichal Yaakov, the town's oldest synagogue.
- December 22
In Modi'in Illit, the Holy Ark had been broken into and suffered fire damage. Silverware from the Torah scrolls was stolen.
2020
- May 12
In Yerucham, the Holy Ark of the Tiferes Yisrael synagogue was destroyed and Torah scrolls desecrated. A similar incident occurred at the B’levav Shalem yeshivah.
2021
- March 30
Two synagogues in Ramat Gan had chametz intentionally left by their front door during Passover. A loaf of bread was found stuffed in the front door handle of one, while pieces of bread were scattered around the entrance of the other.
- April 5
Two arson attacks against synagogues in Bnei Brak and Ramat Gan took place within 15 minutes of each other, one having its Holy Ark set alight.
- May 11–19
Ten synagogues in Lod were burned in arson attacks by Arab rioters.
- August 31
In Bnei Brak, swastikas were daubed on the side of two synagogues. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called the vandalism "a despicable act of evil."
See also
References
- Swastikas Deface Israeli Synagogue, New York Times, June 16, 1986. "Vandals smeared swastikas on a Tel Aviv synagogue today and ransacked two religious schools overnight, as the conflict between Orthodox militants and secular Jews reached new depths of bitterness."
- Yeshiva is Vandalized in Israel in Counter-violence Attacks on Orthodox by Anti-religious Elements, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 16 June 1986.
- Grolier Society (1987). Encyclopedia Year Book. New York : Grolier Society. p. 445.
Secular extremists vandalized Tel Aviv Synagogues in retaliation for the defacement or burning down of Jerusalem bus shelters by ultraorthodox Jews who objected to advertisements for women's swimsuits.
- Clifford Goldstein (April 1, 1987). "War Between the Jews". Liberty. 82 (4: July–August 1987). Religious Liberty Association of America: 16.
In retaliation for the defacing of the shelters, secular extremists began a wave of vandalism against Orthodox synagogues and yeshivot (religious schools). Anti-Orthodox slogans were painted upon the wall of an ultra-Orthodox synagogue in Jerusalem, and arsonists attempted to burn down one in Tel Aviv. In Jerusalem the Habad synagogue was ransacked by vandals, who broke into the holy ark, slashed a Torah scroll, and destroyed hundreds of prayer books. In the Hidushei Harim Yehsiva in Tel Aviv, vandals destroyed prayer books, Bibles, copies of the Talmud, and religious articles. Other schools across the country also were vandalized. Swastikas were painted upon the wall of a Tel Aviv synagogue. A note left behind by a group calling itself Citizens Against Zealotry said that a synagogue would burn for every bus shelter destroyed. "Words fail me to express the shock all of us felt in the face of the attempt by a hooligan, or hooligans, to set fire to a synagogue," said former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres." "Israelis were shocked over the synagogue attacks, which were uncomfortably reminiscent of the anti-Semitism of the Diaspora. "I came to Israel to get away from this type of thing," said one old Jewish woman. "I never imagined that it could happen here." Former prime minister Peres said that "the people will never forgive these acts." Rabbi Avraham Shapira, an ultra-Orthodox MK, called for legislation that would make such acts punishable by life in prison and declared that "only in an anti-Semitic country could such acts take place."
- Reconciliation Effort Underway After Arson Attack on Synagogue in Tel Aviv Shocks Israel, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 13 June 1986.
- Plain Truth. Vol. 52. Ambassador College. 1987.
- ^ Conservative shul in Israel attacked during Yom Kippur, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 12 October 1997.
- Conservative Synagogue Torched, Prompting More Calls for Tolerance, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 23 June 2000. "Images of Holocaust-era synagogue torchings were invoked after a Conservative shul in Jerusalem was set on fire over the weekend."
- Another Bnei Brak Synagogue Defaced, Israel National News, 28 April 2003.
- News Brief - May 22, 2003, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 22 May 2003.
- A woman walks in front of Russian graffi, Getty Images, 26 January 2005.
- Synagogue, Bnei Akiva Branch Ransacked in Galilee, Israel National News, 21 May 2005.
- Synagogue vandalized as gay parade controversy picks up steam, Ynet, 11 February 2006.
- Synagogue Walls Desecrated With Anti-Semitic Graffiti, Getty Images, 5 March 2006.
- Jewish boys look at anti-Semitic graffiti which was sprayed on the walls of a synagogue, Getty Images, 5 March 2006.
- Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2007, February 2008, 110-2 Report. US Department of State. 2008. p. 549.
- Religious Jews recite prayers next to a Swastika and other graffiti that desecrates the floor of the Grand Synagogue,Getty Images, 4 May 2006.
- Report: Vandals Daub Swastikas on Walls of Synagogue in Haifa , Haaretz, 10 March 2007.
- Haifa synagogue vandalized, Ynet, 9 September 2007.
- Vandals deface synagogue in Bnei Brak, Jerusalem Post, 7 November 2007.
- 'Satanic' graffiti sprayed on Bnei Brak synagogue, The Jerusalem Post, 7 May 2008.
- Haifa police rule out nationalism as motive in synagogue arson attacks, Jerusalem Post, 10 March 2009.
- Fire breaks out in Haifa synagogue, believed arson, Ynet, 3 September 2009.
- Ashkelon Shul Targeted in Vandalism Attack, The Yeshiva World, 8 November 2009.
- Jaffa synagogue vandalized, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 10 April 2010.
- Robbery Stuns Synagogue in Heart of Tiberia, Chabad, 2 July 2010.
- In Israel, Wave of Vandalism Hits Non-Orthodox Synagogues, The Forward, 22 April 2011.
- Raanana: Reform synagogue desecrated, Ynet, 14 April 2011.
- Jaffa synagogue firebombed, Ynet, 8 October 2011.
- Arabs Scrawl ’Death to Jews' on Tzfat Synagogues, Israel National News, 12 October 2011.
- Ashdod – Vandals Spray Swastikas On a Synagogue Wall, Vos Iz Neias, December 30, 2011 .
- Synagogue Broken Into, Scrolls Desecrated, Israel National News, 15 January 2012.
- Vandals cause ‘irreparable damage’ to 1,600-year-old mosaics in Tiberias synagogue, Times of Israel, 29 May 2012.
- Vandals damage mosaic floor at ancient synagogue, Mosaic Matters, 29 May 2012.
- Praise for Mohammed on Synagogue Walls, Israel National News, 22 June 2012.
- Police: 'Satanists' May Have Desecrated Synagogue, Israel National News, 26 May 2013.
- Bat Yam synagogue daubed with swastikas, Times of Israel, 29 May 2013.
- Police Suspect Arson in Synagogue Fire, Israel National News, 30 July 2013.
- Synagogue Vandalized in Jerusalem, Israel National News, 23 August 2013.
- Tel Aviv Synagogue Vandalized with Swastikas, Israel National News, 31 December 2013.
- Serious Vandalism of Coastal Synagogues, Israel National News, 10 January 2014.
- Reform synagogue in Raanana vandalized, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 30 January 2014
- MK Lipman visits recently vandalised Conservative synagogue, Jerusalem Post, 14 May 2014.
- Tel Aviv synagogue vandalized in reaction to Jewish state bill, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 30 November 2014
- Bored teens deface Ra’anana synagogue with bloody swastikas, Times of Israel, 2 June 2015.
- Ark curtain burnt, swastikas daubed at Jerusalem synagogue, Times of Israel, 23 July 2015.
- Beis Chabad in Bnei Brak Vandalized on Tisha B’Av, The Yeshiva World, 26 July 2015.
- Pig foot hung at Arad shul; ultra-Orthodox blame mayor, Times of Israel, 25 November 2015.
- Anti-Semitic Graffiti Scrawled on Tel Aviv Shul, Hamodia, 12 January 2016.
- Arson Reported at Bnei Brak Shul, Hamodia, 6 July 2016.
- Jewish man held for vandalizing Jerusalem synagogue, Times of Israel, 13 October 2016.
- Hate graffiti, death threats left at Reform synagogue in Israel, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 24 November 2016
- Public Protest Mounts After Violation of Shul in Arad, Hamodia, 13 December 2016.
- Emergency Meeting Addresses Desecration of Shul in Arad, Hamodia, 12 December 2016.
- Tens of Thousands Gather in Bnei Brak for Atzeres Tefillah and Demonstration Over Shul in Arad, Hamodia, 20 December 2016.
- Tens of Thousands Gather in Yerushalayim for Atzeres Tefillah Over Desecration of Shul in Arad, Hamodia, 22 December 2016.
- Thousands Gather in Ashdod for Atzeres Tefillah Over Desecration of Shul in Arad, Hamodia, 21 December 2016.
- Outrage sparked in central Israel after swastikas spray-painted near synagogue, The Jerusalem Post, 12 April 2017.
- Chabad Synagogue Vandalized in Meah Shearim, crownheights.info, 22 May 2017.
- Jewish suspects arrested over swastika graffiti on synagogues, Times of Israel, 11 June 2017.
- Suspect nabbed for swastikas in Jerusalem synagogue, Times of Israel, 21 June 2017.
- Ramat Beit Shemesh Shul Vandalized by Extremists, The Yeshiva World, 8 March 2018.
- Conservative synagogue in Netanya vandalized four times in eight days, Jerusalem Post, 15 May 2018.
- Petah Tikva synagogue daubed with Nazi graffiti, Times of Israel, 15 August 2018,
- Attacks on Hasidic women continue over Rosh Hashanah, Israel National News, 12 September 2018.
- Shul In Beit Shemesh Vandalized After Mayoral Elections, Matzav, 3 November 2018.
- Pig’s head hung over synagogue entrance in Ramat Hasharon, Times of Israel, 9 November 2018.
- Politicians outraged over defacement of Ramat Hasharon Synagogue, Jerusalem Post, 9 November 2018.
- השנייה בתוך חודש: כתובת של כת השטן רוססה על דלת בית כנסת, Kan Ashkelon, 26 November 2018.
- Sefarim Burned, Graffiti Sprayed at Netanya Shul, Hamodia, January 27, 2019.
- Second synagogue vandalized in Netanya, Jerusalem Post, 29 January 2019.
- Outrage at Desecration of Sifrei Torah in Kiryat Yovel Shul, Hamodia, January 29, 2019.
- HORROR – SIFREI TORAH THROWN TO THE GROUND: Kiryat Yovel Shul Vandalized!, The Yeshiva World, 29 January 2019.
- Jerusalem Synagogue Defaced by Anonymous Vandals, Haaretz, 29 January 2019.
- Synagogue in central Israel vandalized and torched, Israel National News, 10 May 2019.
- Synagogue vandalized in central Israel, Israel National News, 15 May 2019.
- Delinquent Youths Terrorize Bnei Brak, chabadinfo.com, 11 June 2019.
- Four Sifrei Torah Stolen From Bnei Brak Shul, Hamodia, 11 June 2019.
- Ethiopian synagogue in Israel receives threatening letter with swastikas, World Israel News , 28 July 2019.
- Suspect held in arson attacks on three synagogues in central Israel, Times of Israel, 22 September 2019.
- Anti-Religious Graffiti Sprayed on Bat Yam Shul, Hamodia, 7 August 2019.
- Israeli synagogue in Modiin Illit vandalized, Torah scrolls damaged, Jerusalem Post, 23 December 2019.
- Vandals Damage Shul, Yeshivah in Yerucham, Hamodia, May 12, 2020.
- Vandals Dump Bread at 2 Shuls in Midst of Pesach, collive.com, March 30, 2021.
- Fires Break Out in Two Shuls in Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, Hamodia, April 6, 2021.
- The Muslim riots in data: 10 Synagogues, 112 Jewish homes burned, J-Wire, May 19, 2021.
- Bennett slams 'evil' daubing of swastikas on Bnei Brak synagogue walls, Times of Israel, August 1, 2021.