Anti-Semitic vandals deface memorial to French synagogue destroyed by Nazis March 2, 2019Vandalized synagogue memorial in Strasbourg, France. (screenshot)screenshotAnti-Semitic vandals deface memorial to French synagogue destroyed by Nazis Tweet WhatsApp Email https://worldisraelnews.com/anti-semitic-vandals-deface-memorial-to-french-synagogue-destroyed-by-nazis/ Email Print French police launched an investigation into vandalism of a memorial stone marking the site of a former synagogue destroyed by the Nazis in the eastern city of Strasbourg.By Associated Press and World Israel News Staff The prefecture of the Bas-Rhin region said in a statement a heavy memorial stone honoring a synagogue burned to the ground by the Nazis in Strasbourg was discovered moved from its base Saturday morning.Strasbourg mayor Roland Ries denounced the “new anti-Semitic act.”“Anti-Semitism undermines the values of the Republic,” the prefecture said. The monument commemorates a synagogue built in 1898 that was razed by the Nazis in 1940. The incident comes amid an uptick in anti-Semitic acts in France in recent months. Last month, about 80 gravestones were spray-painted with swastikas in a Jewish cemetery close to Strasbourg.In addition to traditional perpetrators of anti-Semitic crimes in France, which include neo-Nazis and radical Islamists, the recently-launched “yellow vest” protests have also included an anti-Semitic dimension, including an incident in which French philosopher and son of an Auschwitz survivor Alain Finkielkraut was called a “dirty Jew” by one of the protestors during a vicious verbal attack that resulted in criminal charges being pressed against the perpetrator.Read France bolstering security ahead of soccer match against IsraelJews in France are not alone, with anti-Semitic crimes on the rise throughout the world. Last week, the Chief Rabbi of Argentina was the victim of a home invasion during which he was beaten so badly he was left with nine broken ribs. While the incident involved a robbery, it is also being investigated as a potential hate crime. FranceHate crimeSynagogue vandalism