HATE ATTACKS ON HOME OF RABBI

This article appears in this week's Jewish Chronicle:

Hate attacks on home of Rabbi

By Cathy Forman

The Leicester Hebrew Congregation rabbi’s house and car have been targeted by anti-Semitic vandals in three nocturnal attacks over the past three weeks.

Bricks twice shattered windows of Rabbi Shmuli Pink’s property, half-a-mile from the city centre synagogue. On another occasion, a brick was thrown through his car window.

Rabbi Pink said that although no one was injured, “this was not a pleasant experience. However, we are remaining strong.”

The minister, who lives with his wife Rifki and their seven children, praised the efforts of the local police. “We are very happy with what the police are doing. They are responding excellently.

He has served the Midlands community for nearly 10 years.

Synagogue security officer Laurence Jacobs said the local community of around 400 enjoyed good relations with other faiths in the city.

“We have the support of other faith communities, who are appalled at what has happened.” Local Police Inspector Shane O’Neill said: “We are treating these incidents as religiously motivated due to the victim’s position in the community and believe the incidents are isolated.

“We are working closely with the victim, the community and other agencies to resolve these to everyone’s satisfaction”