A police detail has been assigned to watch Congregation Shari Israel here, after six incidents of vandalism by neighborhood youths were reported during the past two years. In the incidents, the last of which occurred three weeks ago, bands of youth pelted the synagogue building with stones during and between prayer services. In some cases, the building was broken into.
Harry Beitchman, secretary of the 100-member congregation, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that, although prayer shawls were found strewn about the sanctuary on those occasions when the building was broken into, there was no evidence of desecration. He said the intruders evidently ransacked the synagogue in search of money or valuables. Police Capt. Michael Rotman, commander of the Civil Disobedience Squad, said that a tactical foot patrol had been assigned to the synagogue for this year’s holiday services, and would remain on duty until further notice.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
