Extremists perpetrated a vandalism attack against the Nitra ( נייטרא) Shul in the Nachlah U’Menuchah neighborhood of Beit Shemesh. Kikar Shabbos reports that based on witnesses, the attack is the result of chareidi youths seated in the shul while using their iPhones. Windows were broken and doors unhinged. One witness explains he saw a policeman pick up tefilin from the ground. The attack occurred on Wednesday, 23 Nissan 5774.

According to the report, the story begins a year ago when askanim close to the rav of the neighborhood, Rabbi Nosson Kupshitz, worked to close the Satmar Shul, which is now the Nitra Shul that serves mispallalim from different streams. The shul only operates on Shabbos. The askanim explain that since the shul is not in use on weekdays, the youths take advantage of the venue to use their iPhones and the internet. One of the askanim was given keys to the shul to permit him to conduct surprise visits as part of the ongoing effort to oust the youths. Kikar adds that “people in the know” who have firsthand knowledge of the situation state the askan had one mission, to close the shul at all cost.

On Wednesday evening he got his opportunity. He entered the shul and found a number of youths using a computer. What the askan did not know is that they were using the computer that belongs to the Nitra Rebbe Shlita and they were involved in divrei Torah on the computer, nothing more.

Witnesses report the askan, who we will call S.R. began shouting at the youths for daring to use a computer in front of an Aron Kodesh. The youths tried to show S.R. the computer belongs to the rebbe, and it does not have internet. S.R. did not hear their words and shouted at them, accusing them of defiling the community and blaming them for tragedies that befall the tzibur.

The witnesses’ report that S.R. was shouting out of control “as if he was possessed” and the boys fled, leaving him and two others in the shul.

“We returned later and saw police outside” one of the youths reports, adding they entered the shul and were simply shocked to see the damage that was caused. Broken windows, broken and unhinged doors, overturned benches and tashmishei kodesh thrown around. Toilets were broken and the shul was disgraced to put it mildly.

Crime scene technicians took fingerprints and found a hammer which they believed was used in the vandalism attack. The rebbe, Rav Amram Gross, who was in Bnei Brak at the time, heard what occurred and broke down in tears.

The witnesses add that S.R. fled before police arrived.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)