Nationalist Terror Attack Sets Former Chief Rabbi’s Shul Ablaze

In a pre-dawn attack, an arsonist torched the Ohr Chaviv shul where the former Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef davens, in what authorities are calling a nationalist terror attack, with hateful symbols scrawled across the surrounding area.

By Anash.org reporter

In the early hours of Sunday morning, an arsonist broke into the Ohr Chaviv shul in Sanhedria Murchevet, Yerushalayim, where Harav Yitzchak Yosef, former Rishon L’Tzion, davens. The attacker set fire to the Aron Kodesh, damaging numerous seforim, and causing widespread destruction to the beis medrash. A nearby residential building was also defaced with hateful symbols and antisemitic graffiti, demonstrating clear intent to harm both property and what it represents.

The fire broke out shortly after 3:00 a.m., when an individual broke into the Ohr Chaviv shul and walked directly toward the Aron Kodesh. Security footage shows the intruder igniting a blaze that quickly spread through the woodwork, damaging the Aron Kodesh and charring sifrei kodesh. The personal office of Rabbi Yosef was also struck by the blaze, including his distinguished chair and many seforim—among them volumes authored by his father, HaGaon Harav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l.

The arson was condemned in the strongest terms as “an appalling act of desecration.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said,“we must not allow such images, evocative of the darkest times in our history, to resurface in the Jewish state.” He further stated that those responsible for attacking a shul must face the full force of justice. “It makes no difference whether someone defiles a shul or a courthouse, this is an attack on the heart of our society.”

Arriving just minutes after the fire was reported, firefighting teams succeeded in containing the blaze before it could spread further. Commander Oren Avrahami, who led the firefighting response, described the scene upon arrival. “Smoke was pouring from the roof when we got there. We acted decisively to prevent the fire from spreading to more parts of the building and to protect the sifrei kodesh. He reported that, Boruch Hashem, there were no injuries, and that “the overall damage, while serious, could have been far worse.”

Investigators from the fire department and police later confirmed that the blaze was a deliberate act of arson. Forensic teams, along with the Shin Bet, began a full investigation shortly thereafter. Authorities believe the same individual responsible for the arson also defaced the nearby building, reinforcing the suspicion that this was a coordinated hate crime.

Chief Rabbi Harav David Yosef opened a conference for dayanim by addressing the attack. He said: “I was horrified to hear what happened. A shul was set on fire, and sifrei kodesh were burned—including seforim written by my father, zt”l. This is not only an attack on Torah but on the entire Jewish people. I urge the authorities to find those responsible and preserve the holiness of our shuls.”

Chief Rabbi Harav Kalman Bar spoke out too, describing the scene at Ohr Chaviv as one that “shakes the heart of every Jew.” He pointed to the hateful symbols and destruction as painful reminders of Jewish suffering throughout history, adding, “We denounce this heinous act and call upon the police to carry out their responsibilities faithfully. Those responsible must be held fully accountable.”

Following the attack, senior chareidi figures linked the incident to the escalating incitement against the chareidi public. One referred to it as “a serious hate crime” directed not only at a prominent rabbinic leader but at “an entire traditional public and the values of Jewish identity in the State of Israel.” Others warned that “the antisemitic campaign being waged against the Torah world is liable to result in bloodshed,” and called for an end to government and media persecution.