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 ›

A Torah scroll worth $50,000 was stolen from a rented SUV in Crown Heights yesterday, the Post reports. 21-year-old Levi Havosha says he had just returned from vacation with members of the B'Nai Avraham Synagogue in Brooklyn Heights, and decided to leave the Torah in his vehicle overnight and bring it back to the synagogue in the morning. But when he returned the next day, he found the window smashed and the hand-inked Torah scroll missing. Havosha is praying for the Torah's return, and he also wants to make sure the culprits are aware what they've gotten themselves into: "You're not messing with people anymore, you're messing with God." more ›