The synagogue
Georgia: Synagogue, Torah scrolls vandalized
A synagogue in the city of Gori was found broken into with religious texts torn and stolen; police are searching for the perpetrators.
A synagogue in the eastern Georgian city of Gori was found on Thursday vandalized, with some of its religious texts stolen and its Torah scrolls torn by unknown individuals.
The local police have opened an investigation and are looking for the perpetrators. If caught, they are expected to face a prison of term of between three to five years.
Damaged Torah scrolls
Police at the synagogue
Vandalized synagogue
The vandals ripped some Torah scrolls and stole others. In addition, a number of torn books were found in the synagogue's backyard.
This incident is unprecedented in Georgia, a country that is known for its tolerance to Jews and zero cases of anti-Semitism. MK Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union), a member of the Israel-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Group, said, "I was shocked to hear about the destruction of the synagogue…This is a dangerous precedent that must be dealt with now before it grows. Georgia is one of the friendliest countries to Israel, so it's even more surprising and worrying."
