N. Hollywood Synagogue Is Firebombed
Firebombs damaged a North Hollywood Jewish synagogue early this morning where the chairman of the Jewish Defense League maintains an office.
Police and Jewish leaders characterized the act as a random hate crime and said they doubted that it was directed toward JDL Chairman Irv Rubin.
Rubin uses the office when visiting in the San Fernando Valley, usually about once a week, congregation leaders said.
The damage was concentrated in a kitchen, dining room and small sanctuary in one of two buildings at the Yeshiva Aish Hatorah Institute at 12422 Chandler Blvd.
Firefighters arrived about 12:43 a.m. and found the building ablaze, police said. It took 25 firefighters 13 minutes to put out the flames.
Fire Department arson investigators and police said the fire was deliberately set by someone using Molotov cocktails. Two or three of the devices were thrown at the building, Police Lt. Ron LaRue said.
The building belongs to the Yeshiva Aisha Torah congregation, which used it as a secondary sanctuary for religious services and community celebrations. The main sanctuary is in another building and was not affected.
Two Torahs--the five books of the Old Testament written by hand on lambskin parchment--were stored in the building but were not damaged.
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