Maybe it's a case of Middle East politics striking close to home. But whatever has caused the recent spate of violence aimed at Jewish communities, it is undeniably frightening and despicable. On Saturday, a fire damaged the first-floor business office at Temple Beth El in Syracuse hours after worshippers attended Sabbath services at the synagogue.
Investigators suspect arson.
We don't have enough information. There is going to be concern until we can determine if this is an isolated event. But events have been anything but isolated. The fire occurred at the start of a weeklong Jewish festival of Sukkot, celebrating the fall harvest and commemorating the wanderings of the Hebrews during the Exodus from Egypt. On Saturday morning, a fire at a synagogue in St. Paul, Minn., destroyed a sukkah, a temporary wooden structure erected to celebrate the festival.