synagogues

Au revoir, France: your synagogues and churches are burned

This week I read a chilling article by historian Marc Knobel about burned synagogues. Meanwhile, in France, a church burns every two weeks, while 15 mosques go up. Opinion.

France: Terrorist blows up vehicle at entrance to synagogue

Terrorist wrapped in 'Palestinian' flag, wearing keffiyeh and armed with a gun, sets vehicles on fire near a synagogue in southern France.

Vilna:

Excavations reveal intensity of Great Synagogue's destruction

Archaeological excavations of the Great Synagogue of Vilna reveal the floor of the main prayer hall and evidence of the intensity of destruction of the synagogue, destroyed by the Nazis and the Soviet authorities.

Potsdam:

German state capital gets first freestanding synagogue

Four congregations will share a new synagogue in the heart of Potsdam, Germany.

2 Toronto synagogues attacked on same day

Vandals throw rocks, smash windows of 2 synagogues in Toronto as post-October 7 wave of antisemitism continues.

Florida:

Dozens of synagogues receive bomb threats

More than 50 synagogues in the state of Florida receive bomb threats, resulting in sweeping searches and precautionary evacuations.

Synagogue attack foiled in Germany

German authorities arrest two men suspected of plotting a knife attack on worshippers at a synagogue in the city of Heidelberg.

In Europe, synagogues burn (again)

An Arab threw three Molotov cocktails at the synagogue in Wuppertal, Western Germany, the same one burned by the Nazis during Kristallnacht, And so it burns on. Op-ed

The second time in four weeks

Toronto synagogue vandalized

Toronto police hate crimes unit investigating after windows and glass doors were smashed at the Kehillat Shaarei Torah Synagogue. Similar vandalism occurred at the same synagogue in late April.

Michigan:

Police investigating antisemitic incident near synagogue

Self-proclaimed ‘Jew hater’ under investigation after antisemitic incident at Detroit-area synagogue.

New York:

Synagogues receive fake bomb threats

At least three synagogues and museum in New York receive bomb threats. New York Police Department says none were deemed credible.

Firebomb hurled at Warsaw synagogue

'Outrageous antisemitic attacks such as this can not be tolerated, perpetrators must be found and punished,' Israel's Amb. to Poland urges.

Beitar Illit synagogue goes up in flames

Synagogue catches fire on Friday night, nearby apartment suffers damage.

As Iran attacked Israel, the Jewish community in Argentina prayed

While Iranian missiles made their way to Israel, hundreds of members of the Jewish community in Argentina participated in a 'midnight prayer' for Israel’s safety.

Germany:

Outpouring of support after Molotov cocktail hurled at synagogue

Synagogue in Oldenburg, Germany, is targeted with Molotov cocktail; hundreds rally in solidarity with Jewish community.

Pennsylvania: Two synagogues defaced with antisemitic graffiti

Officials condemn antisemitic and anti-Israel vandalism at 2 Philadelphia-area synagogues.

Kiryat Gat:

Torah scrolls thrown to floor in synagogue break-in

Police, forensic investigators, arrive at scene of Kiryat Gat synagogue break-in, aiming to identify suspects.

Los Angeles:

Conservative synagogue moves services due to anti-Israel protest

Prominent LA Conservative synagogue relocates Shabbat services due to planned pro-Palestinian protest.

Egypt:

We complained to the Pres., he ordered the synagogue restored

A historic synagogue creates tension between Egypt’s few remaining Jews and their government.

Security network:

199 threats against Jewish institutions - in just 24 hours

Hundreds of US synagogues receive bomb threats as spree continues despite arrests.

New York: Police arrest suspect for firing at synagogue

Man arrested after firing shots at Albany, New York, synagogue with preschool.

15 New York synagogues hit with false bomb threats on Friday

As antisemitism spikes in New York, 15 synagogues in one day receive bomb threats.

Twice in two months:

Pro-Palestinians set fire to Jewish center in Yerevan, Armenia

'Group of insurgents is harming Jews in the name of a terror organization that beheads babies,' CER's Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt says.

Watch:

Rosh Chodesh prayers - at synagogue in devastated Kibbutz Be'eri

At the synagogue in Kibbutz Be'eri, singer Yitzchak Meir marks 1st day of the Jewish month of Kislev by praying together with IDF soldiers.

Melbourne synagogue evacuated 'as a precaution' during services

Melbourne synagogue evacuated on Shabbat as tensions over Israel-Hamas war flare in Australia.

Tunisia:

Synagogue, rabbi's tomb, sustain damage in anti-Israel riot

Historic synagogue in Tunisia heavily damaged in rioting tied to Israel-Gaza war.

Synagogue bomb threats continue despite arrest of a suspect

'One arrest will not – nor has not – stopped what has emerged as a tactic for fear and disruption,' Secure Community Network director says.

Peru:

Authorities arrest man suspected of threatening US synagogues

Man in Peru charged with making recent bomb threats to US synagogues, FBI says.

85 years after Kristallnacht:

Germany to begin rebuilding grand synagogue in Hamburg

Hamburg city officials hand Bornplatz Synagoge over to Jewish community, apologize for delay in restitution.

Synagogue sextons concerned:

Shortage of herring possible on Simchat Torah

Three million herring stuck on the way to Israel, creating concerns among sextons of local synagogues over a possible shortage.

Jerusalem: Two arrested for stealing safe from synagogue

Two suspects break into Jerusalem synagogue, steal safe and charity boxes.

US synagogues:

Bomb threats trigger evacuations during holiday services

Bomb threats target US synagogues during Rosh Hashanah, but few interruptions reported.

Medieval German synagogue added to UNESCO World Heritage list

Synagogue in Erfurt, Germany, dating back to the 1090s, seen as one of the oldest in Central Europe, is added to UNESCO World Heritage list.

Ahead of High Holidays:

Two more US synagogues evacuated due to bomb threats

'Every weekend, network of swatters continues to identify targets and are calling in fake bomb threats,' ADL official says.

Ukraine:

Kyiv's main synagogue celebrates 125 years since founding

Despite the war: Brodsky Central Synagogue celebrates 125th anniversary in Kyiv.

California: Two synagogues evacuated during Sabbath livestream

2 synagogues evacuated during livestreamed Shabbat services as wave of bomb threats enters 4th week.

Beit Shemesh: City Council members blast demolition of synagogue

Synagogue erected illegally is evacuated in Beit Shemesh, as local residents fume.

Synagogues burglarized in Ashdod

A thief broke into two synagogues in the city and stole thousands of shekels.

New Jersey: Teen who threatened synagogues pleads guilty

New Jersey teen Omar Alkattoul pleads guilty to online threats detailing attacks on Jews.

NJ township to make it easier to build synagogues and mikvahs

Zoning ordinance change will finally allow Orthodox communities in Jackson Township to hold services outside of private residences.

Los Angeles synagogue shooting suspect pleads not guilty

Suspect accused of shooting two Jewish men on consecutive days as they left LA synagogues pleads not guilty to federal hate crime charges.

Synagogues - a place for thinking

Congregants don’t always realise that the synagogue, especially in the Diaspora, has to be the centre of people’s Jewishness.

Inartistic synagogues

Why synagogues are less decorative than churches - and what the end of the first book of Moses this Shabbat implies.

Acre: Drunk driver rams into synagogue

Acre resident, suspected of driving while intoxicated, is arrested after his vehicle rams into a synagogue, causing damage.

Who destroyed the synagogue in Modi'in Illit?

Resident of Modi'in Illit reportedly destroys synagogue, while desecrating holy books, worshipers say.

Terrorist who set synagogue aflame sentenced to prison

Arab who set fire to synagogue in Mitzpe Ziv agrees to plea bargain, receives fine and prison sentence.

FBI:

Threat to New Jersey synagogues has been mitigated

The FBI identifies man linked to widescale threat against New Jersey synagogues, says he no longer poses a threat to the community.

FBI warns of 'credible threat' to synagogues in New Jersey

FBI tweet calls on synagogues in New Jersey to take security precautions to protect themselves.

Romanian initiative offers access to historic synagogues

Romania’s ornate and sometimes crumbling synagogues get new access via virtual tours.

A new security device might help prevent synagogue attacks

New security measures for Orthodox synagogues will alert them to threats, even on Shabbat.

New Mexico community working to buy back synagogue

A tiny New Mexico Jewish community is trying to buy back its historic synagogue building.

Montana: Jewish community buys back state's first synagogue

After extended campaign, Jewish community buys back Montana’s first synagogue from Catholic Diocese.

New bill to dramatically increase funding for security program

Orthodox Union applauds US House Approval of legislation to Authorize $500 Million annually for security grants for synagogues.

'Freedom to worship only when there is freedom from fear'

Orthodox Union applauds passage of bipartisan Pray Safe Act establishing clearinghouse on safety and security for faith-based organizations.

Montreal suburb bylaw would move home shuls to commercial areas

Côte Saint-Luc in process of passing bylaw change that would encourage residential synagogues to move to several rezoned commercial areas.

Maine teen arrested for plotting to bomb Chicago synagogues

18-year old accused of planning to use homemade explosives containing sharp metal objects to bomb synagogues and mosques in Chicago.

Jews and non-Jews shelter in Ukrainian synagogues

Ukraine rabbis say non-Jews seeking refuge in synagogues, due to belief Russians will not touch the sites.

NY federation funds security at smallest Orthodox synagogues

UJA-Federation of New York creates a $250,000 fund to beef up security at at least 50 small synagogues in Brooklyn.

In this Turkish city, historic synagogues are seeing new life

In Turkey, the city of Shabbetai Tzvi's birth is trying to restore Jewish heritage sites and showcase history.

Texas rabbi:

'I welcomed a terrorist into my congregation'

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker from Colleyville urges members of Congress to increase funding for security in synagogues.