Stolen Torah scrolls found hidden in Palestinian barn

Israeli authorities found four stolen Torah scrolls from a synagogue that had been vandalized in central Israel last week.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli security forces discovered four Torah scrolls hidden in a barn in a village in an area controlled by the Palestinian Authority, Arutz7 reports. The scrolls had been taken from a synagogue in Bnei Brak, which had been vandalized last week.

The scrolls were found in the village of Aqraba, southwest of Shechem (Nablus) in Samaria.

Five Arab suspects were arrested for the theft, Arutz 7 reports.

The discovery of the scrolls likely solves the mystery of who was responsible for the vandalism of the synagogue in central Israel not far from Tel Aviv. The synagogue, located in a religious neighborhood, was ransacked overnight between June 10-11.

The beadle of the synagogue told Israel Hayom last week, “We don’t know how to go forward. The safe was thought to be the best. There’s no security for anyone. The burglars came with expertise and broke into the safe,” where the Torah scrolls were kept.

If the investigation proves that Arabs from the PA vandalized a synagogue in central Israel, it raises serious questions of security. Also found with the scrolls was a hunting rifle and ammunition, Arutz 7 reports.

In January, another synagogue was vandalized in Jerusalem. The Torah scrolls were flung on the floor and covered in acid. Suspicion fell on secular neighbors as there have been ongoing tensions between the religious and secular in that neighborhood. No arrests were made in that case.