Artyom, Russia - Jewish Community Center Vandalized

Artyom, Russia - Jewish leaders were shocked to discover recently that their new community center had been trashed during the night. Valuable books, furniture, video equipment and other items worth a total of 100,000 rubles were destroyed or damaged beyond repair.

Police detained two youths who are under the age of 15. Since the youths come from poor families (one of them was described as barely being able to afford to eat), the Jewish community leadership decided not to demand compensation, but reached an agreement with the vandals' parents that the youths will clean up their mess and do what they can to restore the damage they caused.