Shliach Rabbi Motti Kenig of Modi’in Illit has grown accustomed to the fact that many residents would prefer if he and his Beis Chabad would vanish. Nevertheless, he remains determined in his mission, to bring Chassidus to the community.

On Monday, the Chabad library was targeted by an arsonist. Rabbi Kenig was summoned during the early hours Monday morning and told to come to the building, horrified to find that the site used to deliver shiurei Torah and spread Chassidus was targeted by arson. Anti Chabad graffiti was also visible at the site along with graffiti against the planned Lag B’Omer event sponsored by the children of the community later in the week.

Rabbi Kenig explained that this was not the work of “children or shabavnikim”, but by those who label themselves “avreichim” and “bnei Torah”, questioning how they can set such a site ablaze, a location containing so many sifrei kodesh. "There are enough people here with 'issues' who are capable of perpetrating this deed. Seemingly our hatzlacha boiled their blood."

Rabbi Kenig added that  many residents who passed by and saw the damage, encouraged him and he remains more committed to make this year’s Lag B’Omer event in the city the biggest ever, hoping to double the number of children taking part.