Salt
Lake City, Utah – A local synagogue’s menorah was stolen and vandalized the
night before the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the second time in three years
someone has vandalized the menorah.
When
Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavich of Utah arrived for morning services
Sunday, he said the 6-foot menorah was missing. It has stood outside the
facility, 1760 S. 1100 East, during Hanukkah since 2005.
A
couple out for a walk found the menorah leaning against the alumni house at
nearby Westminster College, Zippel said. This information was confirmed by Lt.
Mike Hatch of Salt Lake City Police Department.
The
full extent of the damage to the menorah is not yet known, according to Zippel.
The Rabbi does not believe the vandalism to have been motivated by an act of
antisemitism, and Salt Lake City police have not found any motive for a hate
crime.
