Bigoted, Anti-Semitic Protesters Help Raise $10K for Synagogue

A small but well-publicized group of homophobic, anti-Semitic Baptist zealots from Kansas brought their dumb message of hate to Manhattan this weekend, standing around with inflammatory signs like "The Jews Killed Jesus" outside a West Village synagogue that caters to gays and lesbians. But instead of straightening out the gays and bringing the Jews to Jesus, these hateful hayseeds actually succeeded in helping out one of their targets, the Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, which turned the demonstration into a fundraiser!

Leaders of the synagogue, which is currently using rented space in the West Village, asked supporters to pledge a dollar or more for every minute that the six bigoted bumpkins protested outside. After almost an hour, they raised $10,000, thanks to the Westboro Baptist Church protesters, who were vastly outnumbered yesterday by a counter-demonstration of some 150 synagogue supporters. Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum tells the Daily News, "The synagogue wants a building so we're hoping this will help us get a building. We're not intimidated by them. We're joining together today to show that we ... simply reject their language, their violence, and we won't be scared away by them."

After inadvertently helping out the gay-friendly synagogue, the Baptists moved uptown to Central Park, where their next target was a celebration of the centennial of Tel Aviv. One of the demonstrators, Rebekah Phelps-Davis, told the Times her group came to New York to condemn the city's Jewish population for its support of "the homosexual agenda." In the park, they were met with a mix of outrage and disbelief. According to the Times, one lady in a Mercedes yelled, "What is wrong with you?", while a passing jogger declared, "I feel sorry for you." And one passerby even tried to pull an Israeli flag from under the feet of one protester but the NYPD wouldn't let her.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on June 22, 2009 10:45 AM

Comments [rss]

commisioner gordon

Shouldn't they be THANKING the Jews for killing Jesus?, if it wasn't for his death, their sins would never have been forgiven?

Guest

That's like saying all Muslims are terrorists or all Jews are self-righteous assholes or all gays are deviants or all blacks are criminals. You can't demonize a whole religion or race based on the idiotic actions of a few.

spoon

Um, pretty sure that the Romans nailed that guy up.

Just sayin'

Tricksta

"Phelps also stated that “[Jews] claim to be God's chosen people. Do you think that God is going to wink at that forever?” Phelps also stated that President Barack Obama is the AntiChrist who would soon lead a march against the state of Israel"

Wow, sounds just like a lotta the douchebags commenting on Gothamist.

Mr Mel

According to the late Jerry Fallwell the Anti-Christ is here now and is a Jewish

male. Has anyone heard that President Obama is being converted?

Tricksta

Only from the usual conspiracy theorists.

Tricksta

Only from the usual conspiracy theorists.

Guest

Baptists are the shit-stain sect of Protestants.

JenChungsBaby

To me they're all just Christians.

The Man Bat

Psssstt.....wanna know a little secret? These "protesters" were hired by Congregation Beth Simchat Torah.

I mean think about it....what better way to raise money?!

books

that actually makes sense. same for the anti-israel stuff - what better way to make people who critique israel seem stupid - that makes sense, otherwise i dont get it.

yg

I was wondering what arsguide/resist/jutpskdiax would post here. Conspiracy theories are always a last resort for antisemites!

Tricksta

Never even heard of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah til those boneheads showed up to protest. You can be damn sure I'ma send in a contribution to the synagog now.

Hooray for free speech!

NannyState

The Phelps sure keep it all in the family, eh? Nobody would want to date one but they keep bringing new garbage in, don't they? Any wonder the windows of their van are always fogged up?

Gnomie

Some Jews will repent? What does that even mean?

Polite New Yorker

Please quit paying attention to these people.

hotstepper

well, i can say that christians these days are certainly making satan look kinda respectable.

rlb14

I can't help but feel that Improv everywhere is missing a great opportunity by not planning something aimed at the Westboro people.

suepart

what is inflammatory about "the jews killed jesus"? is it not a fact?

GREGORYABUTLER

The Romans crucified Jesus Christ

Mr Mel

And when he comes back we'll have to kill him again.

hotstepper

check. David Koresh.

virgilstarkwell

i'm with sarah silverman - i think it was the blacks.

tmz is evil

Sarah Silverman is the poor man's Gilbert Gottfried.

nicemarmot

Maybe I missed something here but didn't the Romans kill Jesus? Crucified and all that junk?

JenChungsBaby

Whether it's true or not it's imflammatory to 2000 years later run around with signs saying that you hate Jews because of it. You idiot.