The Canadian Ottawa Sun (www.canoe.ca) reports that a racist bastrad tried to burn down a synagogue in Ottawa:

A CHILDREN'S class had to be relocated yesterday morning after an arsonist tried to torch a Jewish community library in the west end of the city.

Firefighters were called to the Jewish Youth Library on Switzer Ave. at about 3:30 a.m. after the building's fire alarm was set off. They found the back exterior wall on fire and were able to quickly douse the flames and rip off the aluminum siding.

"It's an arson," said Ottawa police investigator Mike Haarbosch.

The fire was limited to the back outer wall of the building and was extinguished by firefighters before it could cause extensive damage. [...]

"It's very troubling. It's very, very troubling," said Yosef Caytak, a volunteer with the centre. "If the alarm didn't go off, it would have burned the whole building," he said.

Anti-Semitism, or hate and hostility of Jews, is definitely not omnipresent. That said, try to wear a kippa (Jewish skullcap) around Berkeley, California, or any European city for a month and let me know what happens. Thank God for the State of Israel, a place where all persecuted Jews can turn to when needed.

I copy the full article below - thanks to LGF for the link.

Jewish library targeted
Arsonist sets 'very troubling' blaze at west-end building
By JOHN STEINBACHS, Ottawa Sun
http://www.canoe.ca/
OttawaNews/os.os-01-20-0003.html

A CHILDREN'S class had to be relocated yesterday morning after an arsonist tried to torch a Jewish community library in the west end of the city.

Firefighters were called to the Jewish Youth Library on Switzer Ave. at about 3:30 a.m. after the building's fire alarm was set off.

They found the back exterior wall on fire and were able to quickly douse the flames and rip off the aluminum siding.

"It's an arson," said Ottawa police investigator Mike Haarbosch.

The fire was limited to the back outer wall of the building and was extinguished by firefighters before it could cause extensive damage.

The estimated cost of repair is about $10,000.

"It's very troubling. It's very, very troubling," said Yosef Caytak, a volunteer with the centre.

SMOKE SMELL

Caytak searched the inside of the building, but the only sign of damage from the fire was the smell of smoke.

"If the alarm didn't go off, it would have burned the whole building," he said.

The library inside the converted home holds popular books for children and adults and religious books. The building also houses a nursery school.

"It teaches peace and somebody tries to burn us out," said Caytak.

"I don't think it's an accident they tried to burn out a Jewish building."

Police said no other vandalism or damage had been done to the building, but they're investigating.

'EXTRA SCRUTINY'

"It warrants extra scrutiny because of the nature of the building," said Haarbosch.

Volunteer Izzy Scarowsky was called to the building early yesterday by the security alarm company.

"It is not comfortable to know that there are arsonists at large and they can strike in the middle of the night. It's just discomforting," he said.

"It's not clear as to who did it and why they did it. Is it an anti-Jewish thing or is it an unhappy neighbour, or is it someone who has a grudge? Who knows what it is at this point in time."

Posted by David Melle
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