An attempt has been made here to burn down the Sarfatty Synagogue, which was built ten years ago by the Sarfatty family. The vandals poured benzine over the furniture, which they then set on fire. The wedding canopy and several carpets were destroyed, but the flames were seen in time to prevent the fire spreading. The police and judicial authorities have opened an enquiry.
The Venizelist organ “Makedonia”, which is notoriously antisemitic, and the anti-Venizelist “Fos”, which is usually friendly to the Jews, have this time joined together in accusing the Jews of having themselves attempted to burn down the synagogue, in order to be able to blame the Greeks and start a campaign against them.
The President of the Salonica Jewish Community, M. Elis Benosiglie, the President of the Jewish Assembly, M. Asher Meissis, Senator Asher Mallah, and Deputy Bessantchi, have visited the Governor-General of Salonica, M. Gonatas, and expressed to him the anxiety of the Jewish population because of these charges, which might lead to fresh anti-Jewish disturbances.
M. Gonatas asked the deputation to assure the Jewish population that the authorities are watching the situation carefully, and that no disturbance of the peace will be permitted.
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.
