JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The charedi community in Lod was in uproar after the municipality demolished overnight the “Ohel Reuven” synagogue in the Achisamach neighborhood, under orders from Mayor Yair Revivo.

While residents slept overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, municipal bulldozers, accompanied by Border Police officers, moved in on the site. One worshipper said, “At 4:00 a.m., under cover of darkness and with unmatched cruelty, the synagogue was razed to the ground. This is not law enforcement, this is bureaucratic terror.”

Community leaders described the demolition as “outrageous selective enforcement.” Members of the congregation said, “The excuse of ‘illegal construction’ is a mockery. Within walking distance of the ruins stand at least five other synagogues built in exactly the same way. There, for some reason, the bulldozers never arrived. Why? Who at city hall has an interest in trampling one community while turning a blind eye to others?”

Residents also questioned the timing of the operation. “Those who act fairly do not show up at 4:00 a.m. like criminals. Where is the equality? How is enforcement carried out only against one specific community while others appear immune? Where is the heart? Destroying a place of worship in such a manner is a wound that will not heal quickly.”

Rabbi Shlomo Zaafrani, the community’s rabbi, tore his garment and wept over the destruction of the synagogue, citing verses from Lamentations: “She weeps bitterly in the night, tears upon her cheek,” and “For Mount Zion, which lies desolate, foxes prowl over it.” He also quoted Yirmiyahu: “If you do not heed it, my soul shall weep in secret.”

Professional sources in the municipality stressed that “significant expansion work was carried out at the site without any engineering plans, supervision, or building permits, creating exposed and dangerous electrical hazards in the heart of a residential neighborhood filled with children. The structure posed a real risk of collapse. We cannot wait for a disaster and then ask, ‘Where were the authorities?’ The responsibility to protect human life overrides all other considerations.”

The municipality added that it is advancing “a rapid legal solution for the construction of a permanent facility for the community” and will assist in arranging a temporary site meeting all required engineering and safety standards.

The Lod Municipality said: “Despite repeated warnings and explicit notices, expansion work continued, including the construction of eight-meter-high walls without permits or engineering oversight. Such building activity presents a tangible danger to life in a residential neighborhood. We will not wait for tragedy. Out of our duty to safeguard lives, we acted to remove the hazard.”

A statement from the mayor’s office read: “The operation was conducted in accordance with the law, with enforcement authorities, and during the early morning hours to prevent friction and maintain public order. There is no selective enforcement and no targeting of any specific community. Each case is handled based on its legal and safety circumstances.”

The municipality further noted: “Just this week, two large illegal homes were demolished in the Pardes Snir neighborhood, not out of desire, but out of obligation to uphold the law and ensure public safety. At the same time, we remain in contact with the community and are prepared to advance a lawful, regulated, and safe solution that respects the sanctity of the synagogue while protecting human life.”