06 September 2007
Congregants at four synagogues in western Massachusetts are offering a reward and some are vowing to join overnight police patrols following the recent desecration of more than 50 gravestones. Officials say the vandalism at the Jewish cemeteries in West Springfield began over the Labor Day weekend and that additional damage was discovered Wednesday morning despite increased police patrols. Police are investigating whether the vandalism - occurring a little more than a week before the High Holy Days - was a hate crime, particularly since that none of the graves at an adjacent Roman Catholic cemetery were disturbed. A vigil is planned at the cemeteries and the congregations are offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to arrests. They also hope to repair the gravestones in time for the Jewish New Year.
