Vandals broke into the Jerusalem egalitarian synagogue Kol Haneshama on Yom Kippur morning, the fourth incident at the congregation in a month, Rabbi Oded Mazor said. The break-in occurred between the end of Kol Nidre services on Sunday night and the start of services on Monday morning, and a pride flag that had been hanging in the sanctuary was removed, Mazor announced from the bimah during Neila services on Monday night, in a report published on Sept. 21, 2026.
Jerusalem synagogue Kol Haneshama reports fourth break-in in a month, on Yom Kippur
Vandals broke into the Jerusalem egalitarian synagogue Kol Haneshama on Yom Kippur morning, the fourth incident at the congregation in a month, Rabbi Oded Mazor said. The break-in occurred between the end of Kol Nidre services on Sunday night and the start of services on Monday morning, and a pride flag that had been hanging in the sanctuary was removed, Mazor announced from the bimah during Neila services on Monday night, in a report published on Sept. 21, 2026.
Monday's break-in was the fourth incident in the last month at Kol Haneshama, one of Jerusalem's best-known and longest-standing Reform synagogues, according to the report. The earlier incidents included egg throwing and broken windows. The week before, Jewish youth wearing kippot threw eggs at the synagogue during Rosh Hashanah.
At the end of the Yom Kippur service on Monday, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Yossi Havilio addressed the congregation and expressed the municipality's support, and a pride flag was raised again as the congregation sang. During Kol Nidre services the previous night, Mazor read a message from Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion expressing shock at the earlier attacks and pledging the city's support.
During Monday's services, a volunteer guard detail stood watch over the congregation, including residents of the Baka neighborhood where the synagogue is located who are not members, the report said.
Kol Haneshama has been targeted before over its support for the LGBTQ community. In 2018, a large rock was thrown into its courtyard while more than 200 people were taking part in Simchat Torah celebrations, and the congregation filed a police complaint. No one was injured.
JTA contributed to the report.
- The source does not state whether police were notified about or investigated any of the four incidents in the past month, or whether anyone was arrested.
- The source does not state what damage, beyond the removal of the pride flag, was caused in Monday's break-in, or how entry was gained.
- The source does not give the dates or details of the three earlier incidents in the past month beyond the egg throwing during Rosh Hashanah and references to broken windows.
- The source does not state who carried out the break-ins or whether any group claimed responsibility, and gives no stated motive other than the report's account of the attackers.
- The source does not quote Mayor Moshe Lion directly or give the full text of his message, and does not state what steps the municipality has taken beyond expressions of support.
- The source does not state how this year's incidents compare with prior years in number or severity, or how the 2018 police complaint was resolved.
Read the original at The Jerusalem Post