A fire at a synagogue in Philadelphia was ruled an arson.
The fire damaged a kindergarten classroom at the Germantown Jewish Centre, a synagogue that houses a school and communal activities. Firefighters kept the early Friday morning blaze from spreading.
A task force from the Philadelphia Police Department, Fire Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the fire was intentionally set to rags in the classroom.
Swastikas were painted on the building about two weeks ago.
Rabbi Leonard Gordon said he did not think the fire was a hate crime. He told the Philadelphia Inquirer that “the swastikas looked like something children would do. We have wonderful relations with the community.”
.
Power the news that matters to you. Before 2025 ends, help JTA's independent, award-winning newsroom document Jewish history in real-time.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
