Temple to Honor Supporters After Vandalism

May 11, 2008

Author: Denise Jewell Gee

Source: The Buffalo News

http://www.buffalonews.com/lifearts/religion/story/344180.html

The letters started pouring in from area congregations when Temple Beth Israel on College Avenue was targeted by anti-Semitic vandalism.

Members of churches throughout the city wrote to say they supported the temple in the face of a hate crime.

Then the Niagara Falls Human Rights Commission organized a hearing to make the public aware of the two-year string of vandalism and to open a discussion about combating the problem.

Now, members of Temple Beth Israel plan to honor community members who helped raise awareness of the crime.

“We have a small congregation, and the support of the community has been very, very large,” said Lawrence Wolfgang, Temple Beth Israel president.