Firebomb Hurled at Shpoler Zaide’s Gravesite

Unidentified individuals hurled firebombs at the gravesite of a Hasidic luminary in the central Ukrainian city of Shpola. The incident in the city, located 120 miles south of the capital, Kiev, occurred on Sunday evening.

A local Jewish community leader told Haaretz that the perpetrators intentionally tried to set on fire a structure built near the gravesite of Aryeh Leib, who died in 1811 and was an important disciple of Dov Ber of Mezeritch.

Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shpola was popularly referred to as the ‘Shpoler Zaide,’ and was known for the acts of kindness he would perpetrate for poor Jewish people in the region.

5 Comments

  • action is best

    I am glad we are kept apprised of events around the world. But now that we know this , we need to take action and make sure these holy keverim are protected! The descendants of the Shpola Zeide should be contacted to do something.

  • bev

    I hope no damage was done. These graves are very precious. Any idiotic trash who intends to harm these grave sites will be severely punished.