Tel Aviv police on Saturday arrested a man on suspicion of stealing Torah scroll worth NIS 140,000 (approximately $35,000) from a synagogue on Margolin Street in the Yad Eliyahu neighborhood of the city.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The case began three weeks ago, when the suspect entered a Judaica store in Rishon Lezion, and suggested that the store owner, Gabriel Dhaknov Isralov, buy from him a Torah scroll at the absurdly low price of NIS 1,000.

Members of the family who dedicated the Torah scroll with Judaica seller Gabriel Isralov, second right, and investigator Sami Ben Asher, left. (Photo: Israel Police)

The shopkeeper realized that the situation was suspicious. He paid the seller an advance of NIS 200 and promised to donate another NIS 300 to the synagogue, and in return received the Torah scroll. He also took photos of the suspect.

As soon as he had been left with the Torah scroll, Isralov rushed to Rishon Lezion police station and filed a complaint. Police detectives at the station identified the suspect and began looking for him.

With the Torah scroll (Photo: Israel Police)

The suspect was arrested during a random check by Tel Aviv police, when they discovered that he was wanted for questioning in Rishon LeZion. He appeared at Rishon Lezion Magistrates Court on Sunday morning for a remand hearing.

After the suspect's arrest, Isralov and the rabbi and manager of the synagogue were invited to the regional police headquarters for a special ceremony, also attended by the synagogue's rabbi, Zvi Lau (the son of Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau), and by representatives of the family who donated the Torah to the synagogue.