Local News

Sabbath services were held Friday on the lawn of the Chabad Shul, located at 2401 Pinetree Dr., after it was vandalized earlier this week during Passover. Federal, state and local police are investigating a fire that damaged the Miami Beach Jewish community center as a "hate crime".

Archbishop John C. Favalora met with the Rabbi Zev Katz earlier Friday at the Chabad, offering a donation of thousands on behalf of the Archdiocese of Miami.

FBI Dir. Robert Mueller said to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, a member of the house judiciary committee, in Washington DC., that his agency will investigate the fires that damaged Miami Beach synagogues in the past six months as hate crimes.

The FBI has jurisdiction over hate crimes motivated by intolerance of a person's race, religion, or national origin.  

CBS4 was told by congregation members that the Torah, a religious scroll of Jewish laws and customs, a centerpiece of its religion, was taken. Pieces of the Torah were found outside.  Its value is more than $40,000.

"We could see all the prayer books there, all burnt up you can find them, but not one inch of the Torah remnants," said Rabbi Katz. "And we found the pole to the Torah outside. Something strange happened; this is definitely criminal activity."

The rabbi said he believed the fire was intentionally set, but Miami Beach fire officials have not confirmed it. The pole that holds the Torah found outside was brought to the attention of investigators as a clue as to what might of happened.

Congregation members have posted a $1,000 reward for information to find who might be responsible.

Click on Chabad House on Wheels to learn more and if you could help.