Results tagged “temple”

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?

Bearing signs that read "You Will Eat Your Babies" and "Fags Doom Nations," members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church showed up at gay-friendly The Congregation Beth Simchat Torah in the West Village ready to give its members a piece of their mind. Westboro member Steve Drane told NY1, "Anywhere where God's word needs to be preached to an unrepentant generation, that's where we'll be." This weekend marks the first that the church led by Fred Phelps is expanding its anti-gay crusade to now include Jews as well, for reasons such as their exceeding tolerance of homosexuality and abortion to their lack of repentance for killing Christ. While only a handful of Westboro members made it out today, hundreds including Speaker Christine Quinn faced off with them in a counter-protest, where members of the temple were encouraged to keep their message positive when addressing the visitors, particularly while speaking to the press.

Though a plot to bomb two synagogues in the Riverdale section of the Bronx was foiled by federal and city authorities, concerns remained about the safety of the Jewish Center and Riverdale Temple. Yesterday, Governor Paterson and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the two institutions would receive $25,000 in federal money for security. Paterson said, "We will make sure that these two institutions as well as all others in the state of New York are protected," while Gillibrand "noted that the Urban Areas Security Initiative, a homeland security grant program, provided money to organizations at a high risk of a terrorist attack, but that fewer than half of eligible applicants received financing this year." Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt of the Riverdale Jewish Center told the Daily News, "The children of [the suspected terror plotters] will also be welcome in this house of God. I want them to know that we will fight for them and for their future, because in their future is the true ticket to our real safety."

Three of the four men who were arrested for allegedly plotting to plant bomb outside two Bronx synagogues and shoot planes at a National Guard base in Newburgh, NY were charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction within the United States and conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles. James Cromitie, 55; David Williams, 28; and Onta Williams, 32 appeared in court and were held without bail; assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Snyder said, "It's hard to envisage a more chilling plot to bring murder to a ...community... These are extremely violent men. These people who are eager to bring death to Jews."

The FBI and NYPD have arrested four men who were allegedly plotting to bomb at least two Jewish temples and attack a National Guard base. According to NBC New York, "several of the suspects are Muslims who allegedly talked about destroying two Jewish temples, including at least one in the Riverdale section of the Bronx." The men apparently ordered and received bomb making materials, but "investigators said they made sure the materials the suspects received were inert." And WCBS 2 reports, the men also wanted to "shoot military planes located at the New York Air National Guard Base at Stewart Airport in Newburgh with Stinger surface-to-air guided missiles." The four men, all residents of Newburgh, were arrested in the Bronx this evening; apparently a friend tipped off the feds, who have been investigating them for a year.

We've already announced the lineups for days one, two and three at Gothamist House, and here comes day four (the final day). As a reminder, this year WOXY will be broadcasting from the space -- so if you find yourself at work you'll still be able to listen in! At the end of the week stay tuned for a Best of Gothamist House podcast, also provided by WOXY. Now, without further ado:

MOVIE: Bryant Park ends their summer of big screen fun with the classic horror flick Psycho - the movie that made many afraid to shower (and probably scared to check-in to hotels). Bring your best scream...and a blanket.

Londonist are starting to think their city is getting just a little bit too expensive, when even Christian Slater can't afford to go out there. And there's no escaping, as local singer Lily Allen discovered when she was barred entry to the US. The British mapping agency caused further bad karma, by blocking a 3-D representation of London in Google Earth. But the smiles returned to Londonist's faces as they interviewed Baroness von Reichardt, who has completely covered her house in mosaic tiles.

Planetarium, AMNH, by chschulz at flickr

Brooklyn Academy of Music

An 18-year-old student who attends either a high school or college, depending on which paper you're reading, was stabbed yesterday morning on Manhattan's East Side. The motive for the attack is uncertain, but people are willing to speculate. In the Daily News (identifying the victim, Alton McCarthy, as a college freshman), McCarthy's mother paints a picture of her son cutting through Central Park to catch a train home, when he is set upon by a gang of Bloods, who stab him repeatedly in a vicious initiation ritual. She bemoans the fact that no one came to her son's rescue in the crowded daytime park.

Battlestar Galactica Marathon (Sunday, 6:00 p.m., WPXN 31) Five episodes of not the recent revival, but the camp Lorne Greene and Dirk Benedict show from 1978.

This week in the Times, Bruni visits the Four Seasons, awards it two stars. Says, "The standouts on the menu aren’t as numerous as they should be. The signs of a restaurant that runs on two tracks--one for the anonymous, another for the anointed--are too obvious." The restaurant had previously received three stars from Ruth Reichl in 1995. But Bruni also finds a "stubborn magic" still there: in the architecture, the history, and the insider atmosphere.

is definitely a movie worth staying in to watch or re-watch.

MOVIE: The 10th Annual New York International Children's Film Festival commences tonight, starting with the US premiere of the French animated film U (which includes unicorns!). A kid-friendly catered reception will take place after the film.

Billy Bob Thorton sets aside his raunchy also comes to big screens this weekend.

There's two majorly horrific films coming out this weekend, though only some of the frights are intentional. Gaspard Ulliel seemed like such a nice boy in . Personally the "Jack Sprat" jokes seems a little tired but maybe seeing the comedian act with himself and poor Thandie Newton in various, vaguely offensive stereotypes is your thing.

ART: Check out Pale and Blue at 14 tonight at Giant Robot New York. Jeana Sohn’s paintings are a testament to the bond between humans and nature. Meanwhile, The Village Voice is calling Giant Robot New York, “Best New Gallery/store For Big Kids Who Still Like To Play With Toys.” Closing January 3rd. - Stephanie Nikolopoulos

Just listening to a lot of records, getting emotional about them, falling in love with them.

which begins a three day run at Anthology Film Archives tonight. With his work, Glover attempts to push the envelope of cultural taboo, and in every aspect of his 2 plus hour presentation, he succeeds.

- Le Cirque - It's a pretty hilarious article - and we hope this means Charlie has earned her street cred as a beat reporter.

MOVIES: Seriously, like there is anything else to see this weekend besides Snakes on a Plane. C'mon, you know you wanna.

We honestly didn’t expect to love internet sitcom The Burg as much as we do. “Making fun of hipsters…so original,” we thought. But you know what, it’s a really good show, and it “works” somehow. With music by local bands playing in the background, the show is a great snapshot of Brooklyn (even if it’s a small, hilarious, thumbnail photo).

ART: On the Couch: Cartoons From the New Yorker is a collection of cartoons from the magazine which Bob Mankoff (the cartoon editor) says focuses on “the shrink and the shrunk, the practitioner and the practiced upon.” So we're sure you'll all be able to relate, somehow.

Just yesterday we were discussing the destruction of the Rivington Street Temple. That was a real loss for the Lower East Side. The building was a classic: arguably beautiful, with real historic value. Contrast that to the Catholic Center at NYU at 58 Washington Square South. This is an ugly building, styled in the conventions of the post-war brutalism movement. The interior is slightly more pleasing to the eye, but the overall, the structure is a blight on the neighborhood. As such, we were glad to hear news that the Archdiosese has decided to knock it down. Washington Square News reports:

Everyone in LES is still pretty stunned by the demolition of the Rivington Street temple that took place last week. We walked by over the weekend, and tons of people were still gathering on the sidewalk, staring into the ruined shell of a building that was once described as "Carnegie Hall for Cantors." Everyone had their cameras out-- snapping pictures of the remaining back wall, which still had the stained glass and undamaged bema. Yesterday the Times had a good article on the collapse of the Temple-- along with some bad news-- sounds like the lot is zoned up to 12 stories, and the temple might rebuild as part of a larger building:

Slow week for weddings apparently, but in any event, here they are, this weeks Weddings and Celebrations, by the numbers:

Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha be damned. Just cause the foursome aren't continuing their escapades in New York's hottest bars and lounges, there is no reason for Gothamist to stop. We may find the Cosmo passé, but a well-heeled Negroni or Gimlet always coordinate with our Jimmy Choo's.