The vandals painted swastikas on the Holy Ark, floor and signs of the synagogue. The word Hitler was also painted, prayer books were thrown to the ground, and a parchment scroll of Biblical writings used to recite the weekly Haftarah was painted black.
The 100-year-old synagogue is located on Hovevei Tzion St, and is frequented by worshipers of all ages throughout the week. Worshipers who arrived this morning reacted with shock and even tears. Some of them blamed the new Russian immigrants in the city, of whom many are not Jewish.
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who said that the attack is reminiscent of "dark days in Europe," and the Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar, the Rishon LeTzion, will take part today in a prayer rally in Petach Tikvah against the attack.
Two months ago, a synagogue in the Kfar Avraham neighborhood of the city was similarly vandalized; dozens of swastikas were painted on homes in the community, including on the rabbi's home.
The 100-year-old synagogue is located on Hovevei Tzion St, and is frequented by worshipers of all ages throughout the week. Worshipers who arrived this morning reacted with shock and even tears. Some of them blamed the new Russian immigrants in the city, of whom many are not Jewish.
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who said that the attack is reminiscent of "dark days in Europe," and the Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar, the Rishon LeTzion, will take part today in a prayer rally in Petach Tikvah against the attack.
Two months ago, a synagogue in the Kfar Avraham neighborhood of the city was similarly vandalized; dozens of swastikas were painted on homes in the community, including on the rabbi's home.