Jerusalem Masorti (conservative) synagogue vandalized again

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 29 May 2003 | ARYEH DEAN COHEN

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May. 29, 2003
Jerusalem Masorti synagogue vandalized again
By ARYEH DEAN COHEN

Kehilat Ya'ar Ramot, the Masorti synagogue in Jerusalem's Ramot Bet, was vandalized on Thursday, the words "Bet Knesset me'urav l'erev rav" (a mixed synagogue for the rabble) drawn on the synagogue's glass-encased bulletin board and on an adjoining wall, along with a hand making an obscene gesture. The "erev rav" was the "mixed multitude" of non-Jews who according to the Bible left Egypt with the Israelites.

The synagogue has been vandalized in the past, with the sanctuary suffering fire and smoke damage after an arson attack three years ago. That attack was preceded by the daubing of threats on synagogue walls. Those attacks led to the installation of security cameras at the synagogue which members said likely prevented more serious damage in this latest act of vandalism.

The incident follows recent vandalism at the capital's Mevakshei Derekh synagogue. Kehilat Ya'ar Ramot synagogue president Helen Linden said of Thursday's incident: "It's depressing and scary - we have to make sure that it's not ignored. Last time it started with graffiti and no one took it seriously until there was a real fire. Now we have to take this as a serious warning, and we hope that people won't ignore it. It should ring a lot of warning bells - it's a dangerous situation."

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People wonder why I would consider supporting Shinui, why I want to reduce the influence of the Haredim. Israel should be a place for ALL JEWS and all expressions of Judaism. The anti-Semites and those who hate Israel do not care about the difference between Haredim, modern Orthodox, Masorti (Conservative), or even secular Jews. We are too small a nation, to few as a people, to have this sort of intolerance among us.