Vandals last night broke into Rodphey Sholem Synagogue here, scrawled black swastikas on the walls and set fire to part of the building. Firemen extinguished the flames in a closet off the lobby before they could spread to the rest of the building.
The two-foot high swastikas were found painted on the walls of the lobby and sanctuary of the building by Rabbi Jacob Reiner when he arrived for evening services last night. He said that Torah scrolls had been thrown on the floor. Holyoke Fire Chief William Mahoney said that the closet fire was “definitely arson” and that the desecration did not appear to be the work of children because the swastikas were high on the walls.
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