APRIL 20, 1941

ARSON IN THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE

On the 20th of April, a Sunday night at around eleven o’clock there was fire in the Great Synagogue. When it was put out it became clear that there had been four different fires in the building. The flames had destroyed a number of wooden benches and the holy ark had been doused in petroleum and set alight. Tora scrolls, ornamental silver and the embroidered cover of the ark doors were lost.