[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Pro Islamic State, Holocaust denying, Hitler-praising, anti-Semitic graffiti has been scrawled at the Ohel of the Avnei Nezer and his son the Shem MiShmuel in the Sochaczew cemetery.

A statement on the Museum of Sochaczew and Battlefield Bzura website said the incident occurred earlier this week, “probably in the night” at the Jewish cemetery in Sochaczew, Poland.

Vandals are reported to have destroyed the memorial, and monuments dedicated to the Sochaczew Jews who were murdered by the Germans during the Nazi occupation.

Graffiti at the cemetery included the words “Allah Bless Hitler” as well as “Islamic State Was Here” and “Islam Will Dominate”.

Paul Rozdżestwieński, the director of the museum tasked with the upkeep of the cemetery said: “Despite the turmoil of history, historical catastrophes and fought wars in this region, in the minds of the inhabitants still lies the memory of former neighbors.

“[The] museum for years [has] carefully protected the finest artifacts of the past, all cultures and religions. With disbelief [we] discovered this barbaric behavior at the cemetery. It does not display human decency”.

Local police are reportedly investigating the incident, though it is believed there have been no arrests to date.

There has been no comment as to why the graffiti is in English, rather than Polish.

The Avnei Nezer (Hagon HaRav Avrohom Bornsztain 1838 – 1910), was a leading posek in late-nineteenth-century Europe and founder and first Rebbe of the Sochatchover Chasidic dynasty. He is known as the Avnei Nezer after the title of his posthumously-published set of Torah responsa, which is widely acknowledged as a halachic classic. His only son, Hagon HaRav Shmuel (1855 – 1926), succeeded him as Rebbe. He was known as the Shem Mishmuel by the title of his nine-volume work of Torah and Chasidic thought. He was a leading Chasidic thinker in early 20th-century Europe and a Rebbe to thousands of Chasidim in the Polish cities of Sochaczew (Sochatchov).

(Dov Gordon – YWN)