The arrest may have come, but the fear has not faded. Three days after the suspected arson at a synagogue where former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef prays, a tense silence has spread across parts of Jerusalem. Residents report anxious congregants, whispered conversations, and a palpable sense of unease in synagogues far from the original incident
“I don’t even live in that neighborhood,” said Eliyahu, a long-time worshiper from Ramot. “But yesterday, when I arrived at our synagogue, something felt off. I checked if the door was locked, looked over my shoulder twice. It’s like someone is trying to shake our sense of safety. You feel personally targeted — even if the flames weren’t near your block. We’re all potential targets now
Yaakov, from Beit Vagan, echoed the concern: “We’re quiet people, living our routine. But just one look at the news brings this creeping anxiety. If something like that happened near my home, I don’t know how I’d react. And once you don’t know — you’re no longer at ease. Our synagogue could be next
Arson, a Cross – and a Young Suspect
The incident occurred early Sunday morning, June 8th, around 5:00 AM. Two alerts reached police: one reporting a fire at a synagogue in Sanhedria, and another about a black cross spray-painted on a nearby door. No injuries were reported, but property was damaged. At the time, police did not disclose that the targeted synagogue was frequented by former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef
On Wednesday afternoon, Israeli police and Shin Bet confirmed that a suspect in his 20s had been arrested. He is now under investigation, though details remain sealed under a court-issued gag order
