New York Synagogue Desecrated Twice in Two Days; Damages Heavy

Damage to the extent of thousands of dollars was reported by a Bronx synagogue here today, after it had been desecrated by vandals twice within two days. Rabbi David Savitz, of Congregation Brith Sholom, said that he had no choice but to believe that the vandalism was motivated by religious hatred.

The first raid by the vandals resulted in the twisting and breaking of religious articles, as well as the tearing of holy scrolls and books into shreds. Panes of glass were broken, walls and ceilings ripped, and pictures torn from the wall. In the second visit, there was even more damage than in the first, the rabbi reported. Everything that could be smashed was destroyed, and even the light fixtures were torn out of the walls. Openly weeping when he talked to reporters, Rabbi Savitz said: “I have lost my faith in mankind.”