Residents of Jerusalem's French Hill neighborhood were
shocked by an attempt to burn down the Shaarei Rachamim shul
last week, causing major damage to the ezras
noshim.
Late last Thursday night unidentified arsonists broke the
window of the beis knesses and tossed in a firebomb,
starting a fire that gutted the ezras noshim before
firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze. Police are
investigating the attack.
Local residents say THAT in recent months Arabs have been
buying apartments and destroying the neighborhood's Jewish
character. Some suspect new Arab residents were responsible
for the arson.
The rov of the neighborhood, HaRav Boruch Shraga, said
despite attempts to harm the main botei knesses for
French Hill's observant Jews, residents will not be deterred
but will bolster Torah programs in the community. He called
on the police to take immediate action to catch the
desecraters of the beis knesses.
