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October 20, 2000/21 Tishri 5761, Vol. 53, No.4
Anti-Jewish violence has communities worriedJewish Telegraphic AgencySYRACUSE - Police investigating isolated acts of anti-Jewish violence and arson across the country are urging the public not to jump to any conclusions, but local Jewish communities suspect the incidents are linked to the violence in the Middle East.In one of the latest attacks, an arsonist attacked Adath Israel Synagogue in St. Paul, Minn., Oct. 14, destroying the Orthodox congregation's sukkah. In one of the latest attacks, a fire seriously damaged Temple Beth El in Syracuse, N.Y., Oct. 13. More than 60 federal agents are looking into the incident, which investigators have labeled an arson. Meanwhile, in Chicago, police are investigating three separate attacks that took place in the largely Jewish neighborhood of West Rogers Park on the night of Oct. 12. The incidents, in addition to earlier incidents at synagogues in Harrisburg, Pa., New York and Toronto, among others, are heightening concern among Jews. In Syracuse, the main office of the temple was gutted and the second floor was heavily damaged. The main sanctuary and the chapel were not directly affected. In Chicago, three Palestinian American teen-agers were arrested in connection with two of the attacks, which are being investigated as hate crimes. Also, police are searching for a gunman who shot at a rabbi in his car. According to police, the rabbi was pulling away from the curb when someone in a dark sport-utility vehicle pulled up to his car and fired four to five shots inside, shattering the car's front and rear windows, but missing the rabbi. Judith S. Huober of the The Jewish Observer of Central New York, Cindy Sher of the JUF News in Chicago and JTA staff writer Peter Ephross contributed to this report. |
