Manhattan, NY – Three punks were charged with breaking into a historic Lower East Side synagogue after a rabbi spotted them trying to steal copper memorials from a wall.
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Rabbi Mendel Greenbaum was checking on Beth Hamedrash Hagadol on Sunday when he saw the men stacking the plates inside the Norfolk Street landmark, which has been closed for several years.
“I ran out and called the cops immediately,” Greenbaum said. “I just wanted to cry at seeing such desecration.”
Jose Cruz, Ambioris Gonzalez and Carlos Rodriguez were charged with burglary and damaging houses of worship or religious articles for the break-in at the temple, which is the oldest Russian Jewish Orthodox congregation in the country.
In addition to trying to make off with the copper memorials, which list the names of deceased synagogue members, the three men are accused of damaging several religious articles, including prayer books, a scroll and an ark.
“I was checking on some Hebrew books when I saw them,” Greenbaum said.
A menorah was also defaced, Manhattan prosecutors said.
Bail was set at $10,000 for Gonzalez and $15,000 for Rodriguez, while Cruz was awaiting arraignment.
A defense lawyer for Rodriguez said he’s homeless and was only in the synagogue because he saw an open door.
Just shoot them NOW!
Great Job R Mendel Hersh
Such low bail is a joke and will not serve to deter similiar violations. Why doesn’t the shul have a security system and alarms??
You see its the synagouges fault because they left the door open so the mommish couldn’t help it and they walked in. They didn’t do anything wrong. Somehow the copper plates flew into their bags and sacks. Nasty jews, trying to get such fine innocent people who were only there to pray for the neshoma of those listed on the plaques. Boy is this a lawyer.
Give the three yahrzeit plaques of their own — the sooner, the better!
the poor Shule has no money for an alarm system. unfortunately it is in a state of disrepair. this does not give anyone the right to come in to private property and take (steal) things that are not theirs.
Anonymous contributor — Number 5 — has it occurred to you that people don’t steal things they can’t fence? I hope you’re never desperate for food, but if you are I hope you find ways to get it other than stealing from a shul.