Pocono News Section

Synagogue Vandalism Cleanup in Wilkes-Barre

Synagogue Vandalism Cleanup in Wilkes-Barre - Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 8:15PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 @08:15pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY - Wilkes-Barre Police say they know who’s responsible for spraypainting swastikas and hate language on the Ohav Zedek Synagogue.

18-year-old Nora Rynkeiwicz of Factoryville turned herself in late Thursday afternoon at Judge William Amesbury’s office in Wilkes-Barre . Police say Rynkeiwicz and a juvenile are responsible for the graffiti.

According to police, after a $5,000 reward was offered for information, numerous calls were received. Those calls led police to a place where the spray paint cans used in the vandalism were recovered.

Meanwhile, hundreds came out for a cleaning ceremony at the synagogue on South Franklin street Thursday afternoon.

The Mayor released the following statement:

“The WBPD believes that the vandalism here at the synagogue and on Conyngham Avenue are the excessively hateful acts of two misguided individuals, not an organized campaign against the Jewish faith. We take crimes like this these, which infringe upon the basic freedoms of our residents, very seriously. Despite the hurt that these acts have caused the Wilkes-Barre community, we hope that everyone finds relief in the apprehension of these individuals.”