Geneva, Switzerland – The cause of a fire that damaged the largest synagogue in Geneva on the second day of the Shavuous Holiday is still under investigation, but wiss police are now backtracking on their earlier report that it could be an anti-Semitic act.
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Police said, after recovering a circuit-breaker box at the Hekhal Haness Synagogue that a short circuit seems to have triggered the fire.
The fire erupted in the 35-year-old modern building early morning Wednesday which was the Jewish holiday of Shavuous, as was reported here on Vos Iz Neias. About 200 people congregated at the building Tuesday, the eve of Shavuous. However, the building was empty when the fire broke out.
Jewish community in Geneva expressed shock following the incident. Chief of Jewish center for culture and religion in Geneva Nessim Gaon said, “The destruction to the interior is huge. The origins of this must be deliberate.”
The area has been put under surveillance though the police could not establish arson as the cause of fire. [AHN]