Here is the latest of what seems for all the world to be a daily occurence: attacks on Jews for being Jews.
Excerpted from Mathilda Heller’s article for the Jerusalem Post:
A man has been arrested for arson on suspicion of starting a dumpster fire outside San Francisco Hillel on December 5 while the members were inside.
The arson attack occurred while the Hillel student team was inside the building, preparing for the final Shabbat of the term. The dumpster fire spread to the building, and while no one was hurt in the attack, it caused “significant damage.”
Hillel confirmed that there was pervasive smoke damage throughout the building and the plumbing was damaged too. While the Torah scrolls were safe, they are being assessed for smoke damage.
A fire set in a way that it spread to, and largely destroyed, the Hillel building – which, it should be noted is a known quantity that has been used in that capacity for over 40 years. And it was set while the student team was inside preparing for Shabbat.
Is that a coincidence, or intentional? I can’t say with 100% surety. But I know what it smells like, and the smell is intense.
Never again? No, again. And again and again.
After 58 centuries we should know this full well.
