BRITISH RABBI ATTACKED THRICE IN WITHIN WEEKS [SIC]

This article is published today on the website of the World Jewish Congress (founded in 1936 to represent Jewish communities around the world):

British rabbi attacked thrice in within weeks [sic]

A rabbi in England has been targeted three times by suspected anti-Semitic vandals.  In separate attacks this month, bricks were thrown twice through the window of the home of Rabbi Shmuli Pink's home, and a brick also smashed the window of his car. Pink is the rabbi of the Leicester Hebrew Congregation, located in the East Midlands region. He and his wife have seven children. 

He has lived in the community, serving its approximately 400 Orthodox Jews, for nearly ten years, the "Jewish Chronicle" reported.

Police are reportedly treating the attacks as "religiously motivated" since the intended victim is a rabbi, the newspaper reported.  "It has been an unpleasant experience but we have got the support of other faith groups and we are working very closely with the police," Pink told the "Leicestershire Mercury" [sic].

Lawrence Jacobs, the synagogue's security officer, told the same newspaper: "When you have three attacks in as many weeks there is a reason for that and it looks like they were religiously motivated. We have no idea at all who has done it. These attacks were frightening for the children in the house at the time. We are very happy with the police response and we hope those responsible will be caught. The police are treating it with a lot of gravity."

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”

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY: THE LEGACY OF HOPE

This evening we commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day at the University of Leicester, Fraser Noble Hall. This annual event is sponsored by Leicester Council of Faiths, the Schools Development Support Agency (SDSA), the Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Gencoide Studies at the University of Leicester and Leicester City Council. It's one of the most high-profile and prestigious occasions in the Council of Faiths calendar. There are between 75 and 80 people attending this evening.

I arrive before 1830 to erect one of our banners and put out a number of our leaflets (the generic ones showcasing the Council of Faiths). I also put a monitoring form on each seat. This is the fourth time we've used these forms at our events; hopefully, we'll all get used to them before long and we won't need to make special announcements to ensure everyone fills them out. Then it's a dash across London Road for dinner at The Loaded Dog. I have the Posh Fish Finger: (relatively) fast food so I can get back over to Fraser Noble Hall just before proceedings get under way at 1930.

Cllr Manjula Sood (Deputy Lord Mayor and Chair of the Council of Faiths) opens the meeting, welcoming distinguished guests: the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr Roger Blackmore; Lady Mayoress, Mrs Hilary Blackmore; the High Sheriff of Leicestershire, Mr Maurice Thompson among them.

We watch a DVD projected on the big screen, "Wasted Lives", which covers the major episodes of genocide in the twentieth century: Armenia (1915-17); Nazi-occupied Europe (1939-45) and Rwanda (1994). It also touches on events in the former Yugoslavia and in Cambodia. The sound system is a bit creaky, so some of the soundtrack was lost, but it's powerful and sobering stuff none the less.

Three students from Beauchamp College speak. One of them has been to Auschwitz, two are going next week. Then we hear two students from City of Leicester College, one of whom visited Auschwitz four years ago, the other is soon to go. Most of these young people have exams tomorrow and have given up some of their valuable revision time to be here and speak to us.

The Paul Winstone Memorial Essay competition has become a regular part of this event. This part of the proceedings is introduced by Tony Nelson and the prizes awarded by Paul Winstone's widow, Siobhan Begley. Only one of the prize winners is able to attend this evening, a ten-year old girl named Orla (aged 10) from Thomas Moore Primary School. Siobhan reads from other prize-winning essays submitted from Lancaster School for Boys.

Professor Aubrey Nemwman speaks to this year's theme, "The Legacy of Hope". Rev. David Clarke proposes the vote of thanks. We have the chance to mix and mingle with some light refrshements.

I collect in the monitoring forms, gather up leftover leaflets and pack away our banner. I was the first one in and am the last one out. I like that, as it adds to the reflective dimension for me.

This event featured strongly in a nationwide roundup of HMD commemorations published by the Jewish Chronicle (28 Jan 2010).

Read my blog entries for Holocaust Memorial Day 2009, "Stand Up to Hatred" and Holocaust Memorial Day 2011, "Untold Stories".