
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 23, 1994                    TAG: 9406230477 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: VIRGINIA BEACH 
DATELINE: 940623                                 LENGTH: Short

REWARD OFFERED FOR VANDALS

{LEAD} A group of citizens is offering a $1,000 reward to help police catch the anti-Semitic vandals who desecrated a menorah last week.

The benefactors are from Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Portsmouth, and practice several different religions. They were appalled when they heard that vandals had spray-painted swastikas and offensive words on the menorah Friday.

{REST} ``That sort of thing must not be allowed to go on in our community. That's not what the United States stands for,'' said Doug Forrest, vice president of Colonna's Shipyard Inc. in Norfolk, who helped organize the reward fund. ``This money will go directly towards the arrest and conviction of the thugs responsible for the desecration.''

The 10-foot, wooden religious symbol was erected to mark the site of a future home of the Beth Chaverim Reform Jewish Congregation at Rosemont and Stoneshore roads.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Virginia Beach Crimesolvers hotline at 427-0000.

{KEYWORDS} VANDALISM

by CNB