Torahs attacked

By Toshio Suzuki

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At least three men broke into a Eugene synagogue Feb. 22, damaging the building and desecrating two sefer Torahs in an act that police are investigating as a hate crime.

Police were alerted to the crime at Congregation Ahavas Torah by neighbors, reportedly after the men, identified by police as transients, gained entry by breaking a window.

Greg Rikhoff of the Eugene Human Rights Commission said, "It appears that the initial effort was to get out of the weather and find a place to stay for the night, but then only things of religious importance were targeted."

James Nichols McMurry, 51, and Robert William Thraen, 31, were held and released from the Lane County Jail on burglary and criminal mischief charges. Thraen also was charged with criminal trespassing and a third man was cited for trespassing. Detectives are looking for at least two others who may have been involved.

Lane County Corrections Division commander Capt. Kevin Williams, said, "I am very, very uncomfortable with the people we are releasing."

He called the release of the alleged burglars "a significant problem."

"There's no way, no way those people should have been released," he said.

He explained that the jail operates on a "capacity-based release system," which he explained means that criminals are "evaluated (for possible release) on their level of risk against the community."

"Conservatively speaking, we have 50 percent of the (jail) capacity we should have," said Williams.

Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy told the Review, "I immediately contacted the synagogue involved and expressed my concern and support. We have a zero tolerance for hate crimes in this community and where no actual crime has been committed but hate speech is heard, we speak out. Through our offices as community leaders and through our city policies and our Human Rights Commission, we stand with justice and respect for all the people of our community."

Ahavas Torah President Paul Feinstein said, "If it was just a break-in for partying, it turned into a hate crime when they went for the Torahs."

The attack on Ahavas Torah commanded considerable attention in the local media and prompted a roundtable discussion with city officials and Jewish community leaders.

Chief Robert Lehner of the Eugene Police said the March 2 discussion gave the leaders of the Jewish community the chance to voice their concerns directly, and likewise, for him to reiterate that his department was investigating this as a hate crime.

"We heard them and we understand this is not just another crime," said Lehner, adding that the representatives in attendance "came across as understandably upset and concerned."

Accompanying the chief were two police captains, two FBI representatives, the district attorney, assistant district attorney, Feinstein, representatives from the Jewish Federation of Lane County and Rikhoff, who is also the vice chair for the Coalition Against Hate, a Portland-based group started by the American Jewish Committee.

Officials focused on the on-going investigation and the coordination of security efforts for the then upcoming Purim holiday weekend and beyond.

"I really hope that there is enough evidence to ensure that these are charged as bias crimes," said Rikhoff. "Rightfully so, folks are hurt. I think the hurt is deep, significant and justified."

Rikhoff expressed concern for the "permissive attitude" that exists in Eugene, which he said at times has led to a "bigoted discourse" in the college town.

Also attending the March 2 meeting were Chabad of Eugene Rabbi Asi Spiegel; Temple Beth Israel Rabbi Maurice Harris; and three Ahavas Torah board members.

Other anti-Semitic incidents have occurred in Eugene in recent history.

In 2002, worshippers at Temple Beth Israel, the city's largest congregation, were disrupted during Shabbat services when young men threw swastika-engraved rocks at the synagogue windows.

A year earlier, the Reform congregation received hundreds of hate letters from out of state.

In 1994, two white supremacists attacked the Beth Israel building with armor-piercing rifle rounds while the structure was unoccupied.

Ahavas Torah has no full-time rabbi and serves Eugene's small Orthodox community, with about 10 to 15 families attending services, many coming from out of town, according to Feinstein.

Rabbi Zalman Krems, who traveled to Eugene to assess the damages, makes the commute from Portland several times a month for services and classes.

The synagogue itself is no longer in bad shape. Feinstein hired a cleaning service and replaced the window in time for Purim. However, the Torah scrolls are another story.

According to Feinstein, one scroll on permanent loan from Kesser Israel in Portland received water damage when it was thrown out in the rain.

The other Torah—after surviving the Nazi-occupation of Poland during World War II and immigrating to America with a Holocaust survivor—did not fair as well. Feinstein said this Torah has a broken spindle, stretched laces and many ripped portions.

However, both are covered by insurance and have been deemed repairable.

Krems said it is very hard to estimate the cost of repairs until a trained Torah scribe known as a sofer checks the scrolls thoroughly.

The hand-made maple chest that housed the Torahs was also damaged, along with some prayer books.

Throughout history, said Krems, Jews have had bad things happen to them and responded positively.

"We've only grown from this and I see members doing that."

"It kind of reminds people that, 'Oh, I am Jewish and I care,'" said Krems.

In a letter to Jewish community members across Oregon, Krems wrote: "There is destruction that destroys and there is destruction that forges strength, unity and resolve. Our response is to be all the more resolute and committed to educating young Jews with a pride and knowledge in their heritage and a commitment to shoulder responsibility in the community."

In a 2005 analysis, the FBI registered 137 reports of hate crimes in Oregon including 70 race-related crimes, 12 religion-related crimes, 26 sexual-orientation related crimes, and 29 related to ethnicity.