A man reportedly molested two young boys in a Borough Park synagogue within minutes of each other on Wednesday afternoon. The incidents happened at Simcha Hall, which serves the Belz sect of the Hasids in the neighborhood, around 4 p.m. A "young man" dressed as a Hasid asked a 12-year-old boy to help him move some Jewish books then "pushed the boy into the bathroom," pulled down the boy's pants and proceeded to molest him. The Post reports that less than an hour after the first attack, the same man allegedly pulled another young boy into the synagogue's basement and began to molest him. more ›

Authorities announced that they had arrested two men in connection with a terrorist plot to attack a Manhattan synagogue. The two men, whom the NY Post identifies as Moroccan Mohammad Mamdouh and Algerian Ahmed Serhani, are said to be "homegrown" terrorists born in Queens. According to the NY Times, the two men had sought to purchase hand grenades and guns for the attack, but authorities say their plan was still in the "aspirational" stages. more ›

Of course the young rabbi behind the new synagogue in SoHo for "unaffiliated, downtown secular Jews" would turn to an "aggressively whimsical furniture" designer when planning the newest house of worship to hit the chic neighborhood. But what exactly will designer Dror Benshetrit be bringing to the temple on Crosby street? How about a bookshelf/bar that "revolves like the top of a parmesan cheese can to always reveal either prayer books or wine glasses, depending on the occasion?" more ›

An Upper West Side synagogue received a letter containing a threat to blow it up on New Year's Eve, according to the rabbi at Congregation Ohab Zedek. Rabbi Allen Schwartz spoke to the Post, which reports the note was found at 5 p.m. on Thursday, "We have reasons to believe someone wants to spread fear. It was a letter sent to 10 or 12 [other] synagogues." Cops confirmed they are investigating the letter, but couldn't say whether there were other similar threats. more ›

Great Neck, Long Island: Once upon a time this little North Shore village was home to F. Scott Fitzgerald, the United Nations, and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. Today its illustrious residents include Erik Bracamonte and Joseph Cianciulli, who are accused of spending their Saturday night arranging 28 folding chairs into a 12-by-12 foot swastika in the parking lot of a local synagogue. Kids these days, eh? more ›

There's a new City Concealed video from Thirteen.org today, this time focusing on Kehila Kedosha Janina, the last remaining Romaniote synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. It sits on Broome Street, between a Chinese merchant and a glass shop in the Lower East Side, and it's not going anywhere—it was designated a landmark in 2004 (it was erected in 1927). more ›

After last week's apparent terror plot involving explosives-filled packages being shipped via UPS and FedEx to Chicago synagogues (officials believe the explosives were meant to detonate mid-air), Jews in New York City are worried all over again. State Assemblyman Dov Hikind told WCBS 2, "When something like this happens, it’s an awakening call to all of us saying the threat of radical Islam is not over, and will not be over, and we’ve got to be on alert all the time." more ›

A federal jury has found the four men accused of plotting to blow up synagogues in Riverdale, as well as shoot down military planes in Newburgh, guilty on 30 of 32 counts. James Cromitie, David Williams, Onta Williams, and Laguerre Payen, whose lawyers argued that a government informant entrapped them, face up to life in prison—sentencing is next March. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, "Homegrown terrorism is a serious threat, and today’s convictions affirm our commitment to do everything we can to protect against it. The defendants in this case agreed to plant bombs and use missiles they thought were very real weapons of terrorism." more ›

New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver grew up in the historic Bialystoker Synagogue on the Lower East Side. He was Bar Mitzvahed there, and until last year served as the synagogues vice president. But many suspect he didn't run for re-election because of the Orthodox congregation's tradition of not allowing women to hold positions of authority. And now, that edict is beginning to cost the synagogue its members. more ›

Prosecutors have been playing tapes of James Cromitie, one the men accused of plotting to blow up synagogues in the Bronx last year, speaking with the government informant. Cromitie is heard saying, "Sometime, I think I’m talking too much," "Somebody need to send one, one great big message, bigger than the World Trade Center," and "I would kill 10 [Jews] Before I think about killing one Muslim. Don’t be surprised if one day you might see me in handcuffs again. Don’t be surprised because I have zero tolerance for people who disrespect Muslims." more ›

A federal judge denied bail for four men accused of plotting to bomb Bronx synagogues and to shoot down military planes at a base in Newburgh, NY in May 2009. Last week Judge Colleen McMahon delayed the case indefinitely because of issues with the prosecution's case and said she'd listen to bail applications. However, yesterday she decided against allowing bail "because, she ruled, there was no assurance they would return for trial if freed." However, she also said in her ruling, "The government’s case may not be as ironclad as it appeared in the hours and days immediately after the defendants were arrested." The men's defense lawyers claim they were entrapped by an overzealous government informant. more ›

The trial of four men accused of plotting to bomb Bronx synagogues and shoot down military planes in Newburgh has been delayed indefinitely. Not only did federal Judge Colleen McMahon dismiss the jury, she also said she'd consider dismissing the indictment, "No guarantees, gentlemen. No guarantees. But I will listen to bail applications, given everything that has gone on." Why? Because the prosecution didn't turn over evidence months ago. more ›

Today, jury selection begins in the case of the four men accused of plotting to bomb Bronx synagogues and shoot military planes in Newburgh, NY. The men who were arrested while trying to plant a bomb outside a Riverdale synagogue; the bomb's materials were fake, given to them by an informant. While prosecutors claim the men were "disappointed...that the best target (the World Trade Center) was hit already" and Police Commission Ray Kelly said, "They stated that they wanted to commit jihad," defense lawyers say the men were entrapped by the government informant (even suggesting they were lured by fried chicken). At any rate, Riverdale residents are still unnerved; one told WCBS 2, "I can't believe it happened here. It's Riverdale." more ›

The five Torah scrolls that were stolen from the Khal Yirei Hashem Synagogue in Brooklyn on Wednesday were turned over by a person who allegedly knew the robbers. What a mitzvah! The scrolls, worth over $30,000 each, were given to detectives before being picked up by the rabbi of the Satmar synagogue, who had been away in Israel at the time of the robbery. Assemblyman Don Hinkind said the return is "Amazing beyond any words. Today is also a holiday, Lag B'Omer, a very special time in the Jewish calendar and for this to happen on this holiday, which started last night is quite amazing." more ›

Five Torah scrolls were reported stolen from the Khal Yirei Hashem Synagogue in Brooklyn this morning, each valued up to $50,000. Two silver crowns and two silver breastplates kept with the scrolls are also missing, and investigators say there were no signs of forced entry, and it looks like somebody crawled through an open window and stole the scrolls from a safe, which was left unlocked. Community leader Jack Meyer said it may have been an inside job. "We're unsure if it was someone within the congregation, but quite a number of people knew the combination to the safe and many people have keys." The "magic key" strikes again? more ›

In court papers filed today, prosecutors describe the alleged leader of the plot to bomb synagogues in the Bronx as a "hate-filled anti-Semite" who considers Osama bin Laden his "brother." The Post reports that James Cromitie told an informant he wanted to shoot President Bush, saying the president "is the anti-Christ and if Allah does not kill him then a brother will." Another of one the men involved in the plot already said they were disappointed the World Trade Center had already been hit. more ›

A building can be the target of a hate crime, not just a person, or so ruled an appelate court in the case of man who threw Molotov Cocktails at a Bronx synagogue on the eve of Yom Kippur. Thirty-year-old Palestinian-American Mazin Assi is currently serving 5 to 15 for the crime he committed in 2000, with three other men. His lawyer said he should have been convicted only of attempted arson, but a judge decided the stricter charges apply. "It is self-evident that, although the target of the defendant's criminal conduct was a building, the true victims were the individuals of Jewish faith who were members of the synagogue,'' Judge Victoria Graffeo wrote in a ruling that "broadens the hate crimes act," according to the New York Law Journal. more ›

An Arizona rabbi was cuffed in the parking lot of his synagogue, accused of raping a 7-year-old girl a decade ago in NYC. According to the victim, now 17, 45-year-old Bryan Bramly sexually assaulted her when she was spending the night at his family's home in 2000. At the time Bramly was finishing up his rabbinical studies, says the AP. She didn't report the incident until August 2009, but officials says they jumped on the case. more ›

According to papers filed by the defense lawyers, James Cromitie, the alleged mastermind behind May's Bronx synagogue terrorist plot, had been offered up to $250,000 by a government informant. The NY Times reports that the papers detailed how the informant, identified as Shaheed Hussain, encouraged Cromitie to identify targets and even recruit others on the terrorist mission. The defense lawyers want the trial thrown out under entrapment rules, claiming Cromitie wouldn't have attempted the bombing without Hussain's influence. more ›

Prompted by Toyota's recall of millions of cars (as well as other recalls: baby carriages, children's jewelry, etc.) Sen. Chuck Schumer proposed that a comprehensive list of all recalled products be posted online, reports the AP. It seems incredibly obvious, but according to the Democrat, under the current laws businesses aren't required to tell customers that an item has been recalled. Really, people should be alerted if a stroller is likely to sever an appendage or if a car is likely to drive itself into a synagogue. "To be forewarned is to be forearmed," Schumer said. "New Yorkers should know what they're getting." more ›

Today Toyota made official its recall of over 400,000 hybrid cars. Meanwhile a Queens man says he felt the affects of automaker's widespread pedal problems first-hand when his out-of-control Camry hit two other cars yesterday, ending up on the steps of a synagogue. "It's quite obvious—I blame Toyota," said Gerald Silver. more ›

The four men, arrested back in May for plotting to blow up Bronx synagogues and shoot planes at a National Guard base in Newburgh, NY, will be tried in June of next year. Lawyers for the four defendants had contended that the men were entrapped by the fed's informant, who promised/gave them money and fried chicken dinners, luring them into the plot. But the AP reports the judge "ruled that prosecutors don't have to disclose before trial any payments from a federal informant" to the defendants. more ›

Yesterday, the zany zealots of Kansas's Westboro Baptist Church were in Brooklyn, bringing their brand of hate to a few synagogues. And, like at Westboro's earlier protests, there were many more counter-protesters present (example: dog wearing a "Dog Loves Fags" sign vs. Westboro's "God Hates Fags" sign). more ›

Well, the New York Post earned its fifty cents today. Let's start with the cover, which at first glance seems like a work of fantasy but actually documents a real-life, tough-talking rabbi and his plastic pistol-packing "God Squad." Jewish security forces are hardly new to New York (Hasidic communities like the Satmar Jews in Williamsburg have their own private patrols, for instance), but none have produced a training video as uplifting as this one. A mix of Wes Anderson, Adam Sandler, and the "Sabotage" video, it depicts Rabbi Gary Moscowitz, who was an NYPD cop for nine years and holds a black belt in karate, training his fellow Jews to defend their synagogues. Enjoy! more ›

Two rabbis at a Brooklyn Heights synagogue are committed to helping a career criminal who's a suspect in repeated break-ins at their house of worship. Rabbis Aaron Raskin and Simcha Weinstein (the "funny" Rabbi!) befriended suspect Davis Duvallya, 43, several years ago, giving him money and food whenever he asked. Duvallya has 29 arrests on his record and an apparent drug problem, and it seems he sees his charitable friends as gullible targets. He was recently convicted of burglarizing Congregation B'Nai Avraham on March 3rd, stealing a stereo and a charity box containing about $50, and police say he's the main suspect in several other break-ins, which cost the synagogue a laptop computer and toaster. Rabbi Raskin says Duvallya most recently tried to break in on Thursday at 3:30 a.m., but a cleaner scared him off. Now police are searching for him, but Rabbi Raskin tells the Daily News that if Duvallya surfaces, he'll won't turn his back on him: "I feel you have to separate the person from the act. If he's a thief, don't let him in. But what, you don't feed him? He should die? No." But should a man be rewarded for noshing the hand that feeds him? more ›

On Tuesday, calls were made claiming bombs were set at three synagogues along the Jersey Shore. All were evacuated, but authorities found no signs of explosives. Now the NJ local and state authorities as well as the FBI are looking into the threats; MyFoxNY reports, "The person who made the threats is described as a man who spoke with what sounded like a Middle Eastern accent, police said." One resident told WCBS 2, "I'm wondering where this threat came from. I don't really believe it came from our own type of people. It sounds like it's an anti-Semitic type of thing." And because the synagogues were in Long Branch and Deal, some other locals wonder if the threats are some sort of revenge, since some of the figures from the NJ corruption probe—including rabbi Edmund Nahume and government informant Solomon Dwek—are associated with the synagogues. more ›

The four men indicted on charges of a terrorist plot to blow up two Riverdale synagogues and shoot down military planes were arraigned today, pleading not guilty in a Westchester courtroom. Before the judge arrived, one of the defendants, Laguerre Payen, had to be removed from the court when his baggy pants fell down, exposing his boxer shorts. The Haitian-born Payen is a diagnosed schizophrenic, whose attorney said that he is illiterate and does not understand the charges against him. Payen told the judge, "I don't understand, like the stuff the courts talk about." A federal prosecutor said that Payen's behavior is an act, telling the court, "On April 28th, he is on a very clear recording talking about beating the case in a very sophisticated way. It's very different from the way he's talking now in an effort to mislead the court." The four men face life in prison if they are convicted of the eight-count indictment. more ›