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Siberian Synagogue Vandalized
MOSCOW, Mar. 09, 1999 -- (Reuters) Vandals attacked a Jewish synagogue in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, splintered its furniture, tore its holy books to pieces and scrawled swastikas on its the walls, a witness said on Monday.

The attack in which no one was hurt came as Russian anti-Semitic has been increasingly in the news. A synagogue in Moscow was bombed last May and a leading Communist in Russia's parliament sparked controversy by making anti-Jewish remarks.

Miriam Zaklos, wife of Rabbi Shnaior Zalman Zaklos, told Reuters by telephone from Novosibirsk that congregants at the synagogue discovered the damage on Monday.

"The synagogue was totally broken up. All the chairs were broken up, the bima (podium) was totally destroyed, in pieces, all the prayer books were torn up," she said.

She said the attackers had sprayed Nazi graffiti on the walls in black paint and ripped copies of the Torah holy scrolls.

Rabbi Berel Lazar of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Moscow described the attack as "a pogrom."

Zaklos said her husband had arrived in Novosibirsk only 10 days ago from Israel to take up the vacant position of rabbi.

"The people here are very friendly. That's why we were so surprised," she said.

Duty officers at the Novosibirsk city and regional police stations said they had no information on a vandalism attack at the synagogue ( (c) 1999 Reuters)

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