Arson Attack Targets Jerusalem Synagogue of Former Chief Rabbi

A suspected arson attack at the Or Habiv synagogue in Jerusalem, frequented by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, sparked widespread condemnation from Israeli political and religious leaders who labeled it a serious hate crime. The fire caused damage to holy books and vandalism, including the spraying of crosses nearby, but firefighters prevented the destruction of the Torah scrolls and the synagogue itself. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and Rabbi Yosef called for an end to incitement and hatred, linking the attack to rising tensions over the conscription of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students. Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar demanded swift investigations and justice for the perpetrators. The Shin Bet security service is treating the incident as a nationalistic terrorist attack, with police and fire authorities confirming the blaze was deliberately set. Security forces continue probing the incident amid concerns about the broader impact of extremist rhetoric on community safety in Israel.