Yemenite synagogue in central Israel vandalized, holy books ripped apart
Mishkan Shalom Synagogue decries ‘pogrom,’ community member calls it ‘terror attack’; police yet to identify motive or suspects
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A Yemenite synagogue in a town in central Israel was vandalized on Friday, ahead of Shabbat, according to footage circulating on social media.
Israel Police said Saturday that officers opened an investigation into the incident, though no motive or suspects had yet been identified.
Members of the Mishkan Shalom Synagogue in Kadima-Zoran, near Netanya, turned up for Shabbat prayers Friday evening to find prayer books and chumashim, or pentateuchs, torn up, one of the worshipers told the Ynet news site.
The footage showed the floor of the synagogue covered with pages of books strewn about.
At least two Torah scrolls, which are generally treated with the utmost care and kept in an ark, were lying on the floor, along with other ritual objects.
“There’s never been a pogrom like this,” the synagogue said in a statement, according to Ynet. “After we saw the horrors, we closed the place, and because of the holy Shabbat, we submitted a complaint to the police after Shabbat.”
תיעוד מזעזע מפוגרום בבית כנסת בישוב קדימה צורן בית הכנסת של העדה התימנית, שנמצא במקלט.
בערב שבת הגיעו המתפללים לבית הכנסת ולתדהמתם נתקלו בפריצה בתוך בית הכנסת, נקרעו הסידורים נזרקו ספרי תורה על הריצפה, שברו והרסו את כל תכולת בית הכנסת. pic.twitter.com/eI9H61b2PE
— מה חדש. What's new❓ (@Gloz111) November 22, 2025
“We are in shock, this is a terrorist attack,” a member of the community told Channel 12. “I arrived at the synagogue and almost fainted when I saw it.”
“We have no idea who it is and why they did this,” the member added. “There are no words to describe the destruction and damage.”
Responding to the reports, a police spokesperson said that officers opened an expedited investigation into the vandalism.
“An initial examination found no signs of a break-in,” the spokesperson said, emphasizing that “all directions of the investigation are being examined.”
“This is a serious incident,” the statement said, adding that all resources are being utilized to “expose the perpetrators of the crime and bring them to justice.”
The Times of Israel Community.