The famed synagogue of the Sadigura Hasidic dynasty in Ukraine, known as the Kloiz Kadisha, was set on fire Thursday evening by a mentally disturbed individual. The announcement came from the Jewish community in Chernivtsi.
According to initial details, a mentally disturbed man entered the synagogue — located in Sadigura, a suburb of Chernivtsi — at a time when the guard had left the gates. Police, called to the scene quickly, managed to apprehend the arsonist. Early investigation reveals that about a month ago he attempted to set fire to a local church.
“This is a very sad and painful incident,” said the community’s rabbi, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Glitzenstein. “The synagogue is one of the most important buildings in the Hasidic world.”
Glitzenstein, who also serves as the local Chabad emissary, added: “Here in Chernivtsi we do not sense antisemitism. There is extensive security at Jewish institutions and efforts are made to neutralize any sign of antisemitism. All residents live together in brotherhood and peace.”
Nearly 10 years ago, the ancient synagogue was re‑consecrated after a comprehensive restoration. Its dedication took place some 180 years after the original “kloiz” belonging to Rabbi Israel of Ruzhin — founder of the Sadigura dynasty — was first built, and approximately 100 years after it was abandoned during World War I. Four generations of Sadigura rebbes had run their court from this “kloiz,” which Hasidic historians describe as the grandest and most splendid building in the Hasidic world. In the year 1914 (Hebrew year 5674), due to World War I, the kloiz was abandoned.