Auburn vandals break congregation’s menorah

AUBURN – Vandals shattered a temple’s outdoor menorah in the second act of vandalism targeting the congregation in two years.

“Our reaction was shock and dismay and horror and, ‘Oh no, not again,”‘ said Sheri Olstein, a board member of Temple Shalom Synagogue-Center.

Vandals defaced the congregation’s sign two years ago.

Police were investigating the damage, which was noticed Friday evening and reported Saturday morning. They estimated the damage to the kerosene-lit menorah, made by a member of the 100-family congregation, at $500.

But Olstein said it was hard to know the true cost. In recent years, members of the congregation have used the menorah in their celebrations of Hanukkah, which begins this year on Dec. 21.

“It’s particularly distressing because we always do it during Hanukkah and we’re not going to be able to do that,” said Olstein.