Jerusalem Chief Rabbis arrived at the Siach Chaim Shul in the Kiryat Yovel neighborhood of the city, the shul targeted in the pogrom in which Sifrei Torah R”L were taken out of the aron kodesh, stripped of their covers and hurled to the ground, after which bleach was poured over them.

Jerusalem Sephardi Chief Rabbi Moshe Shlomo Amar and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern were present on Tuesday night, delivering a pained message to Mayor Moshe Leon, to stand tall and firm against those who are opposed to the growing frum community in the neighborhood, those who oppose the construction of the eruv and shuls in the community, as well as those opposing the talmidei torah in the community.

Rav Amar led off with a bracha for Leon, citing he is new at the post, wishing him success. The rav added there are some in a number of neighborhoods in the city who simply do not tolerate seeing a shul near them, the same people who do not want a mikve – calling is sinas chinam.

“Holy women wish to go to mikve and there are those who stand up and cry out against them. Even among the goyim we did not see this” cried Rav Amar. He continued, attacking those who destroy the erev poles and wire, calling on the mayor to act against them without fear.

“This is the root of the horror we witnessed. These are the same persons who object to a mikve, an eruv, and to a shul. Where is democracy now? All the values have been destroyed. We must stand out and be heard, to shout over what has occurred! We have learned that we mustn’t remain silent and give in”, added Rav Amar.

HaGaon HaRav Stern added, “We are hopeful that those responsible are not among our own and we must do a cheshbon nefesh”.

The rabbonim called for a fast day on Monday, erev Rosh Chodesh Adar I, which should be accepted upon oneself at mincha on Sunday.

Dozens of persons arrived at the atzeres kovod in Kiryat Yovel following the unspeakable attack and affront to Kedushas Sifrei Torah R”L. Attorney Itamar Ben-Givir called for the ISA (Israel Security Agency/Shin Bet) to become involved, just as it does when it suspects Jewish youths of perpetrating an attack.

Channel 12 News announced that three Arabs were arrested in connection to the break-in, who appear to have been after money and nothing more, and the damage to the Sifrei Torah was to cover up their finger prints and evidence. It appears the break-in went sour as they were unable to exit from the door they entered, and they had to break a window to get out.

They poured bleach on the Sifrei Torah and the entire shul, wherever they moved, in the hope of destroying any evidence against them and the preliminary report signals the attack was not a hate crime but an attempt to steal items of value despite the horror of the scene left behind.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)