This is a list of antisemitic attacks and vandalism against synagogue buildings and property in Israel. Vandalism of synagogues is not uncommon in Israel.
1986 June In Tel Aviv on June 11, the Bnei Benjamin synagogue was torched and swastikas were daubed on the walls of the Great Synagogue.Swastikas Deface Israeli Synagogue, New York Times, June 16, 1986. "Vandals smeared swastikas on a Tel Aviv synagogue today and ransacked two religious schools overnight, as the conflict between Orthodox militants and secular Jews reached new depths of bitterness." On June 16, vandals rampaged through the Chidushei Harim yeshiva destroying tefillin, prayer books, bibles and copies of the Talmud, scrawling "down with the black parasites" on the walls.Yeshiva is Vandalized in Israel in Counter-violence Attacks on Orthodox by Anti-religious Elements, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 16 June 1986. In Jerusalem, a Chabad synagogue was ransacked and the Torah scroll was slashed and hundreds of prayer books were destroyed. The violence was instigated in retaliation for the destruction of multiple bus shelters by religious Jews with one group calling itself Citizens Against Zealotry threatening to burn a synagogue for every bus shelter destroyed. MK Rabbi Avraham Yosef Shapira declared that "only in an anti-Semitic country could such acts take place." Knesset Speaker Shlomo Hillel said the synagogue arson was reminiscent "of the worst experience of the Jewish people."Reconciliation Effort Underway After Arson Attack on Synagogue in Tel Aviv Shocks Israel, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 13 June 1986. Israeli President Chaim Herzog called the synagogue attacks "domestic anti-Semitism."
1997 October 7 In Jerusalem, vandals daubed swastikas and "damned wicked ones" at the entrance to the Harel Reform synagogue.Conservative shul in Israel attacked during Yom Kippur, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 12 October 1997. October 12 In Kfar Sava, a Conservative synagogue was vandalised on Yom Kippur and had the mezuzah ripped off the doorpost.
2000 June In Beersheba, the Masorti Eshel Avraham Synagogue had its windows smashed. In Jerusalem, a blaze at the Conservative Kehillat Ya'ar Ramot synagogue damaged the main sanctuary, furniture and prayer books. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak called it "an awful act that causes every Jew to shudder" adding that "it is seven times more shocking when it occurs in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the State of Israel".Conservative Synagogue Torched, Prompting More Calls for Tolerance, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 23 June 2000. "Images of Holocaust-era synagogue torchings were invoked after a Conservative shul in Jerusalem was set on fire over the weekend."
2003 April In Bnei Brak, six synagogues were set on fire; a seventh was sprayed with graffiti.Another Bnei Brak Synagogue Defaced, Israel National News, 28 April 2003. May 22 In Jerusalem, the Mevakshei Derech Reform synagogue had its windows smashed.News Brief - May 22, 2003, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 22 May 2003.
2005 January 26 in Beer Sheva, swastikas and "Death to the Jews, Heil Hitler" in Russian were painted on the wall of a synagogue.A woman walks in front of Russian graffi, Getty Images, 26 January 2005. May 21 In Nazareth Illit, the Bnei Akiva synagogue was ransacked and prayer books desecrated and burned.Synagogue, Bnei Akiva Branch Ransacked in Galilee, Israel National News, 21 May 2005.
2006 February 11 In Tel Aviv, considerable damage was caused to the Geulat Yisrael synagogue in the Shenkin neighbourhood. Windows were smashed and walls daubed with "If we don't march in Jerusalem – you won't walk in Tel Aviv".Synagogue vandalized as gay parade controversy picks up steam, Ynet, 11 February 2006. March 5 In Petah Tikva, swastikas and "death to Jews" was sprayed on at a synagogue.Synagogue Walls Desecrated With Anti-Semitic Graffiti, Getty Images, 5 March 2006.Jewish boys look at anti-Semitic graffiti which was sprayed on the walls of a synagogue, Getty Images, 5 March 2006. May 4 In Petah Tikva, approximately 20 swastikas are sprayed on the Holy Ark, Torah scroll and walls of the Great Synagogue.Religious Jews recite prayers next to a Swastika and other graffiti that desecrates the floor of the Grand Synagogue,Getty Images, 4 May 2006.
2007 March 10 In Haifa, Nazi swastikas and a drawing of a nude woman were scrawled on the wall.Report: Vandals Daub Swastikas on Walls of Synagogue in Haifa , Haaretz, 10 March 2007. September 30 In Haifa, the sukkah of the Neve David synagogue was burnt down and prayer books were sprayed with "death to religious people". A witness said the culprits gave the Nazi salute while calling "Heil Hitler".Haifa synagogue vandalized, Ynet, 9 September 2007. November 7 In Bnei Brak, the Biala synagogue on Ezra Street had its property smeared in feces and doused with wine.Vandals deface synagogue in Bnei Brak, Jerusalem Post, 7 November 2007.
2008 May 7 In Bnei Brak, a Holy Ark was sprayed with satanic graffiti and gasoline poured on the floor. Police said three other local synagogues had also been targeted.'Satanic' graffiti sprayed on Bnei Brak synagogue, The Jerusalem Post, 7 May 2008.
2009 March 8 In Haifa, the Neve Zion synagogue was set ablaze. A week earlier on March 3, the Heichal Shimshon synagogue in the same neighbourhood was set on fire and the Holy Ark and prayer books were damaged.Haifa police rule out nationalism as motive in synagogue arson attacks, Jerusalem Post, 10 March 2009. August 30 In Haifa, the Naveh Shaanan synagogue was subject to an arson attack.Fire breaks out in Haifa synagogue, believed arson, Ynet, 3 September 2009. November 8 In Ashkelon, vandals broke into the N’vei Dekalim synagogue damaging furniture, prayer books and alms boxes.Ashkelon Shul Targeted in Vandalism Attack, The Yeshiva World, 8 November 2009.
2010 April 17 In Ajami, swastikas and Palestinian flags were drawn on the walls of the Beit El synagogue.Jaffa synagogue vandalized, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 10 April 2010. June 23 In Tiberias, intruders smashed every window and ripped out antiquated metal bars of a historic building serving as a Chabad-Lubavitch center. $5,000 in cash was stolen along with silverware and computers.Robbery Stuns Synagogue in Heart of Tiberia, Chabad, 2 July 2010.
2011 March 25 In Netanya, the Reform Beit Yisrael synagogue was subjected to stone-throwing attacks by Haredi youths which continued for at least three consecutive weeks.In Israel, Wave of Vandalism Hits Non-Orthodox Synagogues, The Forward, 22 April 2011. April 14 In Raanana, a Reform synagogue had its windows shattered and was sprayed with graffiti for third time in recent months.Raanana: Reform synagogue desecrated, Ynet, 14 April 2011. October 8 In Jaffa, a synagogue was firebombed after two Arab cemeteries were vandalised.Jaffa synagogue firebombed, Ynet, 8 October 2011. October 12 In Safed, "Death to Jews" was scrawled on four synagogues.Arabs Scrawl ’Death to Jews' on Tzfat Synagogues, Israel National News, 12 October 2011. December 30 In Ashdod, a synagogue wall was sprayed with swastikas and "Death to Haredim".Ashdod – Vandals Spray Swastikas On a Synagogue Wall, Vos Iz Neias, December 30, 2011 .
2012 January 15 In Hemed, Torah scrolls were thrown on the floor and covered with mud.Synagogue Broken Into, Scrolls Desecrated, Israel National News, 15 January 2012. May 28 In Hamat Tiberias, the ancient synagogue mosaic was smashed and daubed with graffiti in protest of archeological digs at ancient gravesites. The head of the Eastern Galilee and Golan region of the Antiquities Authority said the vandalism "destroyed one of the most magnificent synagogues in the country," and that "the damage is irreversible, it's doubtful we will be able to see the mosaic like it was before... The mosaic floor was here for 1,600 years until these vandals destroyed so many years of history.”Vandals cause ‘irreparable damage’ to 1,600-year-old mosaics in Tiberias synagogue, Times of Israel, 29 May 2012.Vandals damage mosaic floor at ancient synagogue, Mosaic Matters, 29 May 2012. June 22 In Maor, vandals sprayed praise for Mohammed and Muslim prayers on the walls of a synagogue.Praise for Mohammed on Synagogue Walls, Israel National News, 22 June 2012.
2013 May 26 In Haifa, a synagogue was sprayed with swastikas, anti-Semitic graffiti and drawings indicating devil worship.Police: 'Satanists' May Have Desecrated Synagogue, Israel National News, 26 May 2013. May 29 In Bat Yam, windows were smashed and swastikas were daubed on the walls of the Ha’Ohel synagogue. The warden, who suffered a panic attack, said "for how long must we feel that we are still in exile? This is the fourth time in a month." A month earlier crosses and the phrase "brothel" was scrawled on the walls.Bat Yam synagogue daubed with swastikas, Times of Israel, 29 May 2013. July 30 In Netanya, ten Torah scrolls were burnt by a thief attempting to cover his tracks in a synagogue on Nordau Street.Police Suspect Arson in Synagogue Fire, Israel National News, 30 July 2013. August 23 In Ramat Eshkol, inside a synagogue belonging to Bnei Akiva, the Torah scroll had been flung to the ground and graphic images sprayed on the walls.Synagogue Vandalized in Jerusalem, Israel National News, 23 August 2013. December 31 In Tel Aviv, Nazi slogans and swastikas are spray-painted at the Gr"a synagogue.Tel Aviv Synagogue Vandalized with Swastikas, Israel National News, 31 December 2013.
2014 January 10 In Ezer, vandals broke off the Torah Ark door and tore the Torah scrolls which had been thrown on the floor.Serious Vandalism of Coastal Synagogues, Israel National News, 10 January 2014. January 30 In Raanana, a Reform synagogue was sprayed with quotes from the writings of Moses Maimonides on heretics.Reform synagogue in Raanana vandalized, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 30 January 2014 May 12 In Jerusalem, the entrance sign to the Masorti Moreshet Yisrael congregation was daubed with swastikas.MK Lipman visits recently vandalised Conservative synagogue, Jerusalem Post, 14 May 2014. November 30 In Tel Aviv, the words "In a place where the Jewish State bill will be legislated books will be burned," were painted on the wall of the International Synagogue. Believing that left-wing activists were behind the attack, the rabbi called it a "clear act of anti-Semitism."Tel Aviv synagogue vandalized in reaction to Jewish state bill, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 30 November 2014
2015 May 31 In Ra'anana, anti-Semitic graffiti was daubed on the Ahavat Reim Synagogue. The vandals also desecrated Mezuzah parchments by using their own blood to paint crosses and swastikas on them before plastering them on the walls of the synagogue. The police chief called the incident a "heinous desecration of religious symbols."Bored teens deface Ra’anana synagogue with bloody swastikas, Times of Israel, 2 June 2015. July 23 In Jerusalem, the Pitchei Olam synagogue on King George Street was daubed with swastikas and the curtain of the Holy Ark was burnt.Ark curtain burnt, swastikas daubed at Jerusalem synagogue, Times of Israel, 23 July 2015. July 26 In Bnei Brak on Tisha B'Av, the Beis Chabad was vandalized and the Holy Ark was set alight.Beis Chabad in Bnei Brak Vandalized on Tisha B’Av, The Yeshiva World, 26 July 2015. November 25 In Arad, a severed pig's foot was hung near the entrance of a recently inaugurated Haredi synagogue.Pig foot hung at Arad shul; ultra-Orthodox blame mayor, Times of Israel, 25 November 2015.
2016
January 12 In Tel Aviv, anti-Semitic graffiti were scrawled on the walls of a synagogue in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood.Anti-Semitic Graffiti Scrawled on Tel Aviv Shul, Hamodia, 12 January 2016. July 6 In Bnei Brak, a synagogue was set on fire damaging prayer books.Arson Reported at Bnei Brak Shul, Hamodia, 6 July 2016. October 13