Trenton Synagogue Sanctuary Gutted in Fire
far-flung communities as Dearborn, scene of the incidents, said he was
Melvindale, Grosse Ile, Southgate, convinced that the words daubed
Wyandotte and Trenton. One of the on the blackboard were done by
scrolls that was destroyed had been the same vandal who painted the
contributed recently by the doctors words on the building last summer.
found the word "Jeuden" (Jews) of the area.
"The window to the basement was
and a swastika written in chalk in
Isadore Mulias, a member of the shattered, and the words on the
large letters on a blackboard.
synagogue who kept close to the board were pretty high for a child
Although Schmolka insists there
is no open anti-Semitism in the THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, March 3, 1967-3
community, this is the third in-
41010“4244r,'
cident of vandalism against the
synagogue. Last summer, van-
Strictly
dals daubed swastikas on the
Kosher
building, and four or five years
Meats and
Poultry
ago, there was a similar incident
at the sign announcing the site
Specializing in:
for the building. Schmolka said
there was a possible link between
• Fresh, Cutup Chicken Parts
• Cartwheels
the latest incident and the one
• Ready Made Hamburger Patties
• Cube Steaks
last summer. The perpetrators
• Oven Ready Turkeys
• Kosher TV Dinners
had not been apprehended.
• Mock Chicken
• Beef Ribs
He said that services today would
• Seasoned Meat Balls
• Seasoned Meat Loaf
probably be held in the lower-level
• Chinese Egg Rolls
social hall although neighboring
• Veal for Scalopini
St. Thomas and Faith Methodist
• Beef for Scalopini
Churches had offered facilities for
• Boneless Chicken Breasts
any synagogue function. Members
of Grace Episcopal Church of
Southgate had been scheduled to
attend services at Beth Isaac this
evening.
Member Detroit Kosher
WE DELIVER — UN 1-4770
Meat Dealers Association
Thirty-five families belong to the
congregation. They come from such
4 Scrolls, Prayerbooks Destroyed
at Beth Isaac; Arson Is Charged
The Trenton Fire Department
was seeking leads today into the
arson that gutted the sanctuary of
Beth Isaac Synagogue Wednesday
night.
Irving Schmolka, president of the
Downriver congregation, estimated
damage to be more than $10,000,
including the Holy Ark and four
Tora scrolls. The ceiling was
charred, he said, but because of
the concrete floor, the lower-level
rooms suffered only water damage.
The synagogue building is 21/2 years
old.
Firefighter Donald Chesney, who
was called to the scene at 8:47
p.m., said Thursday "there is no
question in my mind that it was
arson." He said the fire was started
in the area of the bima at the front
of the synagogue.
There had been children's He-
brew classes until 6 p.m. A wit-
ness said he saw smoke coming
from the front door more than
two hours later. He found the
door unlocked, and saw what ap-
peared to be a pile of rags burn-
ing in the front of the synagogue.
It was learned later that the
"pile of rags" was in fact prayer
books the vandals had taken from
- the synagogue library and ignited
on the bima.
Another witness said she saw
four teen-age boys standing in the
street watching the fire. She called
police.
Near a shattered window, police
said, they found an empty can that
had contained paint stripper. They
APLAN B OS.
18229 WYOMING
•
Lift AO-Year Ban
on Trent Province
for Murder Libel
No ifs ands or maybes.
American Savings...
ROME (JTA) — The Italian
Rabbinical _Board ended Tuesday
a writ of excommunication im-
posed on the town and province of
Trent nearly 500 years ago after a
group of 12 Trent Jews were ex-
ecuted on a ritual murder charge.
The action, which declares Jews
are now permitted to live and
trade in the area, was purely sym-
bolic, since Jews have long done so.
The rabbinical action was in
effect a response to a pastoral let-
ter issued in October 1965, by the
Archbishop of Trent, Alessandro
Gottardi, declaring the Jews inno-
cent of the charge.
The letter was dated to coincide
with the promulgation by Pope
Paul VI of the Ecumenical Council
declaration repudiating the charge
of collective Jewish responsibility
for the crucifixion of Jesus.
The incident took place in 1475
when a 2-year-old boy named
Simon, son of a local tanner, van-
ished. His body was found two
days later, on March 26, by one of
the 25 Jews of Trent. Under the
authority of the Prince-Bishop of
Trent, a "trial" was held of most
of the 25 Jews. Most of the "de-
fendants" were tortured to death
on "charges" the child was killed
_/ in Jewish worship.
Simon was recognized for cen-
turies as a Blessed—eligible for
local veneration — but never
formally beatified by the Con-
gregation of Rites of the Vati-
can. A panel in a Trent church,
graphically portraying the alleged
murder, was covered up several
years ago.
The rabbinical board also ex-
pressed gratitude to Archbishop
Gottardi for his initiative in ending
the five-centuries-old libel against
the Jews.
...on six-month savings certificates
of $5,000 or more is the highest rate
paid on savings in Michigan. Period!
Jew Convicted in Russia
of Spying for Israel
LONDON (JTA) — The Soviet
press Feb. 23 published a report
that a Russian Jew named Simon
Dolnik has been convicted on
charges of espionage for Israel, it
was reported here from Moscow.
The conviction could result in a
death sentence, it was pointed out
here.
to have done it," he said.
Mulias said that damage would
have been much greater were it
not for the heavy wood construction
of the ceiling and the concrete
floor.
AMERICAN
SAVINGS
WhereYour Savings Are Insured To $15,000
•
See our complete collection, tO_to $1000
GEORGE
OHRENSTEIN
Certified Master Watchmaker
and Jeweler
18963 Livernois Ave.
UN 1-8184
Open Daily 9 to 5:30 p.m.