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Roundhay, England - Jews Shocked after Synagogue Doors, Locks Stuffed with Pork |
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Police also found bacon stuffed through the keyhole of the Sinai Synagogue on Roman Avenue when they were called to the incident.
Dan Cohen, chair of the Leeds Jewish Orthodox Community Group, said that the discovery of the bacon – a meat banned to Jews –was "shocking".
He said: "It is outrageous that in modern, multi-cultural Britain we are still seeing these types of anti-semitic activities.
"This is massively offensive. This is no different to daubing a swastika on the door. This is of that magnitude and it's very worrying.
"We can only hope that this is not symptomatic of growing racism in the UK having just seen Richard Brons elected as a BNP MEP.
"I sincerely hope there is no link between the rising success of the BNP and what seems to be a rise in anti-semitic incidents."
The bacon was found at 9am on Saturday morning, 90 minutes before the synagogue's weekly service.
Bacon and all types of pork are prohibited in the Jewish faith.
Trude Silman, chair of the Leeds-based Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association (HSFA), said: "Obviously it's purile, it's stupid and it's a hate crime.
"It comes down to anti-semitism. It's racist. Things like this shouldn't happen these days but obviously some people don't know any better."
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "We were called to reports of bacon being draped on door handles and in the key hole of a synagogue.
"West Yorkshire Police take such incidents very seriously and scenes of crime officers were sent to examine the door and dust for fingerprints.
"Officers also liaised closely with members of the synagogue and we would like to reassure members of the Jewish community that incidents such as this are rare."
Any witnesses to the incident are asked to call West Yorkshire Police on 0845 606 0606.
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Read Comments (17) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 22, 2009 at 07:16 PM Gefilte Fish Says:
My kind of shul, shabbos morning services at 10:30. Way to go!
2
Jun 22, 2009 at 07:11 PM Zac Says:
Yesh g'vul l'chol ta'alul
3
Jun 22, 2009 at 08:53 PM Shocked Leodensian Says:
This is MY home town! Roundhay is a district in Leeds, just like BP is an area of Brooklyn. It is not a town.
Sinai is a Reform shul. Gefilte Fish, you really don't want to "daven" there!! Anti-semitism is rife in the UK & in Leeds in particular...a huge Muslim population, & most of the July 7th London bus & train bombers hail from Leeds.
Sinai Shul is literally round the corner from where I lived as a child...but we, as a Shomer Shabbos family, walked 1.5 miles each way to our Orthodox Shul! I am shocked at this incident, but I shouldn't be. Terrible! The irony is, of all the Shuls in Leeds, Sinai (obviously) is the most ecumenically welcoming, accepting into its congregation Jews & non-Jews alike.
4
Jun 22, 2009 at 08:34 PM Anonymous Says:
Nebach!
5
Jun 22, 2009 at 08:21 PM mottel Says:
they should have simply removed the bacon and thrown it quietly into the dustbin. they're just giving pleasure to the oafs who placed it there, by fussing and squawking
6
Jun 22, 2009 at 09:35 PM cool masmid Says:
Any shul that davens at 10:30 you got to figure they have a kiddush after davening...and not stam a kiddush, and so this may have been the waitre after putting the shmaltz herring or the galleretta into bowls then touched the door nob - that's what it could have been..... but then again in Leeds they most probably never heard of shmaltz herring or galleretter. Btw my mother was born and grew up in Leeds and I was there quite a few times years ago buut this story does surprise me......
7
Jun 22, 2009 at 09:20 PM Anonymous Says:
This couldn't have been done by Moslems since they are forbidden to touch pork. I must have just been homegrown antiSemites.
8
Jun 22, 2009 at 10:21 PM Milhouse Says:
I don't get this obsession with bacon, as if its mere presence is some terrible offense. Bacon is no less kosher than a non-geshochtene chicken, and in any case there's no prohibition against touching it or possessing it. We have no problem with pigskin wallets, shoes, or footballs. So why the shock and horror at this stupid prank?
9
Jun 22, 2009 at 09:59 PM Shocked Leodensian Says:
Hey, Cool Masmid, what was your mother's maiden name? Maybe she was a neighbor to my family back in the day!
And yes, we have heard of shmaltze herring AND galleretta. Along with tripe & black pudding. Not that the latter appear at a traditional kiddush of course! But they do serve scotch & nice biscuits & a bissel kuchen!
10
Jun 22, 2009 at 10:55 PM Yeshivish Says:
“ My kind of shul, shabbos morning services at 10:30. Way to go! ”
Don't be so proud about it
11
Jun 23, 2009 at 07:01 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Hey, Cool Masmid, what was your mother's maiden name? Maybe she was a neighbor to my family back in the day!
And yes, we have heard of shmaltze herring AND galleretta. Along with tripe & black pudding. Not that the latter appear at a traditional kiddush of course! But they do serve scotch & nice biscuits & a bissel kuchen! ”
I was born in leeds, but why for one moment do you think people are going to give their details away on line. not to mention being a sheep aint anything to be proud of ;)
12
Jun 23, 2009 at 07:36 AM Shocked Leodensian Says:
“ I was born in leeds, but why for one moment do you think people are going to give their details away on line. not to mention being a sheep aint anything to be proud of ;) ”
Oh, chill! Relax! Get a life! It's people like you that give Americans the impression that all Brits are stiff & boring! And you a Tyke too! Shame :)
Have some fun...life's too short to be miserable & "proper" all the time!!!
PS Sheep?....are you talking about Ilkely Moor ba'tat?
13
Jun 23, 2009 at 07:58 AM cool masmid Says:
“ Hey, Cool Masmid, what was your mother's maiden name? Maybe she was a neighbor to my family back in the day!
And yes, we have heard of shmaltze herring AND galleretta. Along with tripe & black pudding. Not that the latter appear at a traditional kiddush of course! But they do serve scotch & nice biscuits & a bissel kuchen! ”
I have no problem giving my mothers maiden name; it was Wollenberg - and you are very right for telling off #11....
14
Jun 23, 2009 at 08:19 AM cool masmid Says:
Do you remember the. Levis from Leeds ?such nice people the whole city loved them
15
Jun 23, 2009 at 09:04 AM Rabbi Simon Says:
“ I don't get this obsession with bacon, as if its mere presence is some terrible offense. Bacon is no less kosher than a non-geshochtene chicken, and in any case there's no prohibition against touching it or possessing it. We have no problem with pigskin wallets, shoes, or footballs. So why the shock and horror at this stupid prank? ”
it says in rashi the reason jews say pigs r not kosher all the time and not others is b/c the have split toes but dont chew their cud
16
Jun 23, 2009 at 12:43 PM Shocked Leodensian Says:
“ Do you remember the. Levis from Leeds ?such nice people the whole city loved them ”
Which Levis? There are so many with that name. My father knew Jack Levi, a lawyer, from when they were kids. Both families (I think) lived opposite Rakusen's Matzo factory on Meanwood Road. Memories!! LOL!
17
Jun 23, 2009 at 01:11 PM Jimmy37 Says:
I am shocked! Shocked, I say. Absolutely shocked! What a big megillah out of nothing! It would be a real chilul hashem if the perpetrators were Jewish kids doing some kind of prank.