Molotov Cocktail Thrown at Warsaw's Only Synagogue to Survive Holocaust

In the early hours of Wednesday, May 1, 2024, an unknown perpetrator threw a Molotov cocktail at the Nożyk Synagogue in Warsaw, Poland, according to Israel's Ambassador to Poland Jacob Livne. The Nożyk Synagogue is the only synagogue in Warsaw that survived the Holocaust.

The incident happened around 1 a.m., causing minimal damage to the synagogue. A black smear was left across a glass, but fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident. Warsaw police stated that they had investigators at the scene.

Polish authorities, including Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and President Andrzej Duda, vehemently denounced the attack. President Duda declared that "anti-Semitism has no place in Poland" and that "there is no place for hate in Poland."

Foreign Minister Sikorski noted that the attack happened on the 20th anniversary of Poland's membership in the European Union. He questioned whether the same perpetrators could be behind the recent anti-Semitic vandalism in Paris, which French authorities suspect was carried out by Russian security services as part of an online destabilization campaign, although Russia has denied any involvement.

Why this matters: The attack on the historic Nożyk Synagogue is a disturbing reminder of the persistent threat of anti-Semitism in Europe, even as countries celebrate milestones of unity and progress. It underscores the need for continued vigilance and solidarity against hate crimes targeting religious minorities.

The Nożyk Synagogue, which has been under renovation since 2008, is a symbol of the once-thriving Jewish community in Poland. Before World War II, Poland was home to Europe's largest Jewish population, but now only a few thousand Jewish inhabitants remain following the Holocaust. Polish Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich described the attack as a failed attempt to set the synagogue on fire, stating that it was spared from more serious damage "by incredible fortune or miracle."

Key Takeaways

• Molotov cocktail attack on Nożyk Synagogue in Warsaw, Poland on May 1, 2024.
• Minimal damage, no injuries reported; Polish authorities strongly condemned the attack.
• Attack occurred on 20th anniversary of Poland's EU membership; possible link to recent anti-Semitic vandalism in Paris.
• Nożyk Synagogue is the only Warsaw synagogue that survived the Holocaust, a symbol of Poland's Jewish community.
• Attack underscores persistent threat of anti-Semitism in Europe, need for vigilance against hate crimes.