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| Minnesota Police Announce Arrest in Synagogue Fire | Minnesota Police Announce Arrest in Synagogue Fire |
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| The authorities in northern Minnesota said they had made an arrest in connection with a fire that destroyed a synagogue last week, which came amid a rise in anti-Semitic crimes and rhetoric. | |
| The fire, reported early Monday, tore through the 118-year-old Adas Israel Congregation synagogue in Duluth just weeks before the Jewish High Holy Days. A firefighter who responded to the scene was injured. | The fire, reported early Monday, tore through the 118-year-old Adas Israel Congregation synagogue in Duluth just weeks before the Jewish High Holy Days. A firefighter who responded to the scene was injured. |
| Local officials initially said there were no signs of substances that would suggest arson, but later announced new evidence. Details about that evidence, the arrest and a motive remained unclear. The police initially planned to provide an update on the case on Saturday, but delayed their news conference until midday Sunday because of the Jewish Shabbat, or Sabbath. | Local officials initially said there were no signs of substances that would suggest arson, but later announced new evidence. Details about that evidence, the arrest and a motive remained unclear. The police initially planned to provide an update on the case on Saturday, but delayed their news conference until midday Sunday because of the Jewish Shabbat, or Sabbath. |
| “We wish the Duluth Jewish community a peaceful and restful Shabbat as we continue to offer our full support,” Steve Hunegs, the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, said in a statement after the arrest was announced. | “We wish the Duluth Jewish community a peaceful and restful Shabbat as we continue to offer our full support,” Steve Hunegs, the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, said in a statement after the arrest was announced. |
| Adas Israel Congregation has been a hub for northeastern Minnesota’s small Jewish community for well over a century. Founded by Lithuanian immigrants in 1885, according to the Minnesota Historical Society, the congregation began building its synagogue near Duluth’s downtown in 1901. According to the St. Paul Jewish Federation, the congregation has about 75 members. | Adas Israel Congregation has been a hub for northeastern Minnesota’s small Jewish community for well over a century. Founded by Lithuanian immigrants in 1885, according to the Minnesota Historical Society, the congregation began building its synagogue near Duluth’s downtown in 1901. According to the St. Paul Jewish Federation, the congregation has about 75 members. |
| The Duluth police said on Friday that they had finished their investigation and made an arrest, but did not provide details. Online records showed that a 36-year-old man from Duluth was booked into the county jail on suspicion of arson around the time the police announced an arrest. | The Duluth police said on Friday that they had finished their investigation and made an arrest, but did not provide details. Online records showed that a 36-year-old man from Duluth was booked into the county jail on suspicion of arson around the time the police announced an arrest. |
| The fire has followed a wave of anti-Semitic crimes — including the killing of 11 people last year at a Pittsburgh synagogue — that the Anti-Defamation League said has reached alarmingly high levels. | The fire has followed a wave of anti-Semitic crimes — including the killing of 11 people last year at a Pittsburgh synagogue — that the Anti-Defamation League said has reached alarmingly high levels. |
| Minnesota politicians from both parties, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, Representative Pete Stauber and Gov. Tim Walz, sent messages of support on social media after the fire. | Minnesota politicians from both parties, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, Representative Pete Stauber and Gov. Tim Walz, sent messages of support on social media after the fire. |
| “Adas Israel Congregation of Duluth was an important faith home for many,” Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota said on Twitter. “Sending peace to the community, and gratitude to all who helped respond to this emergency in the middle of the night.” | “Adas Israel Congregation of Duluth was an important faith home for many,” Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota said on Twitter. “Sending peace to the community, and gratitude to all who helped respond to this emergency in the middle of the night.” |
| Sarah Rose, a journalist and author, described her family’s longstanding ties to Adas Israel and the “ancestrally terrifying image of a synagogue on fire” in an article published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. | Sarah Rose, a journalist and author, described her family’s longstanding ties to Adas Israel and the “ancestrally terrifying image of a synagogue on fire” in an article published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. |
| Ms. Rose, who said she often visited the Duluth synagogue as a child, described the structure as “beautiful, but in sorry shape,” and the congregation as dedicated but aging and shrinking. | Ms. Rose, who said she often visited the Duluth synagogue as a child, described the structure as “beautiful, but in sorry shape,” and the congregation as dedicated but aging and shrinking. |
| “The image of a synagogue on fire suggests the worst Jewish nightmare, a fresh Kristallnacht,” Ms. Rose wrote before the arrest was announced. “Given cryptic statements from fire department and police officials, it seems the politics of blood and soil may have touched my family seat.” | “The image of a synagogue on fire suggests the worst Jewish nightmare, a fresh Kristallnacht,” Ms. Rose wrote before the arrest was announced. “Given cryptic statements from fire department and police officials, it seems the politics of blood and soil may have touched my family seat.” |