When graffiti was detected on the outside of the Lev Simcha Talmud Torah on Ashdod’s Tzivoni Street in the Chet neighborhood on motzei Shabbos, the principal was summoned. Little did he and others realize that the distasteful graffiti on the outside of the structure was the least of their problems.

To their shock, swastikas and anti-chareidi epithets were painted on interior walls and seforim were defaced, torn and scattered about. Storage cabinets and other furniture were damaged and in some cases, torn from walls.

The school’s principal, Rav Menachem Goldberg and askanim in the local Gerrer chassidic community are certain this is a direct result of the anti-chareidi campaign launched during the recent mayoral election.

Rav Goldberg stated that in the past, there were signs of attempted break-ins, but nothing of this magnitude. Rav Shlomo Tzvi Alter, a son of the Gerrer Rebbe Shlita also arrived to get a first-hand look at what occurred over Shabbos.

Rav Goldberg is calling on Ashdod City Hall and law-enforcement officials to apprehend those responsible and to bring the weight of the judicial system down on the criminals.

Immediately after crime scene investigators completed their work on the scene, Rav Goldberg and others began painting the walls to ensure classes will be held on Sunday as scheduled.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)