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On the night (between Tuesday and Wednesday), a shul was broken into Moshav Aviezer, during which Sifrei Torah were removed from the Aron Kodesh and thrown out of the shul.

In a conversation with one of the residents of the moshav, who has already decided to leave his home, a very disturbing picture emerges of weekly burglary events. From breaking into houses, breaking cars and trying to steal them and finally, breaking into the shul and trying to steal Sifrei Torah.

“For a long time, there have been burglaries of homes and vehicles throughout the day, both day and night, almost on a weekly basis,” explains a resident speaking to the dati leumi Srugim website. “I personally had two experiences, as they tried to steal the car. With each break-in, the damage was costly”.

The resident adds that “Two weeks prior to the break-in, they broke into our home and my landlord, who has two other places. The stole a great deal of property including three computers, a camera, hard disc, tools, wedding band and other valuables”.

Another resident who relates to the home break-ins feels “While the cash value may not be great, there is a great deal of sentimental value involved in the items taken”.

They explain after months of break-ins; the shul was targeted. “They tried stealing the parchment from the Sifrei Torah. They entered via a window and we found two Sifrei Torah thrown outside the shul”.

Some residents now feel they have lost their sense of security and are actually thinking of moving.

Aviezer is a small religious moshav in central Israel. Located nine kilometers south-west of Beit Shemesh, at the east end of the Elah valley. It falls under the jurisdiction of Mate Yehuda Regional Council. In 2015 it had a population of 847.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)