Youths arrested in Jewish center destruction

NORWICH – Three Norwich youths have been apprehended and charged with wrecking the inside of a synagogue on South Broad Street last week, according the City of Norwich Police Department.

Listed between the ages of 13 and 14, the three youths were arrested Saturday after an “involved parent” contacted police with information about the crime.

Since Wednesday, when the damage was discovered, the Norwich Police have been leading an investigation with assistance from state police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation evidence technicians.



“We’re terribly relieved,” said Dr. Lawrence Rosenblum, a member of the Norwich Jewish Center, located at 70-76 S. Broad St. “We’re so appreciative the police have closed this out.”

Windows, furniture, dishes, light fixtures and religous relics were destroyed on all three floors of the brick building, once the Eaton Mansion. An anti-Semitic message was left behind in graffiti. The damage was estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars. The center’s sacred torrahs were left unharmed.

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Reader Response

3 comments on this story

Thistle
April 15th, 2008 at 8:53 am
From the Shema: "And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart. And you shall teach them diligently to your children...." Where do 13 and 14 year olds get the idea to do such vandalism? As a society we are becoming more insensitive as we get further from God and at the same time are apathetic about teaching our children to respect the faith of others. In other words, we are losing our altruism. Keep drumming the secular idolatry of the TV monsters and video games rather than the heart of God and we will have what we deserve--a society with no sympathy, empathy, or compassion.
wiredogbeagle
April 14th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
The youths that damaged the Jewish Center should be tried as adults.If you do the crime, you should do the time.
Norwichite82
April 14th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Three "youths"? Try "hoodlums" or "vandals". Please do NOT try to make them misunderstood victims here. They need to be held responsible for their actions and work very very hard to rehabilitate themselves so that they can properly apologize and then spend the rest of their lives practicing Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). It is their obligation and responsiblity.

Thanks you to all involved law enforcement and to the "involved parent" for a quick resolution to the investigation.
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