[VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
Mispallelim at a Sephardic Shul in Flatbush were shocked to find that multiple Sifrei Torah had been robbed overnight on Simchas Torah.
Security camera footage captured the suspect entering Rabbi Beyda’s Shul located at 808 Avenue O near East 8th Street.
Four (Sephardic) Sifrei Torah were stolen from the Shul.
Clear photos and video footage of the suspect have been attached to this article.
It is unknown how the suspect gained access to the safe.
The Sifrei Torah were used on Simchas Torah night for Hakafos before being placed back into the Aron Kodesh.
NYC Councilman David G. Greenfield announced a $1,000 reward for any information leading to arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for Tuesday’s morning’s burglary.
“It is deeply saddening that such a crime could occur at any time of year, but it is especially upsetting that this took place during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah – when Observant Jews around the world are celebrating the annual completion of the weekly reading of the Torah portion,” Greenfield said. “I encourage anyone who may have information about this crime to reach out to the NYPD Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS”
The synagogue, located at 808 Avenue O in Brooklyn, was broken into by a white male in his 20s after around 1AM on Tuesday morning. The perpetrator, who may or may not be Jewish, was wearing a yarmulke. Four torahs were stolen in the burglary.
“I will award $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the capture and conviction of the despicable criminal who committed this crime,” Greenfield said. “We will not tolerate this outrageous criminal activity in our community.”
Anyone with information that could help in solving this crime is encouraged call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS. The NYPD’s 66th Precint and Major Case Squad is actively investigating.
Sources confirm to YWN that NYPD Detectives have several good leads and are aggressively working on the case.
(Chaim Shapiro – YWN)
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15 Responses
Hashem should watch over all of us! What was his goal? Is he even Jewish?
I Hope the Seforim are returned safely and the perpetrator is caught.
I have long been puzzled by the theft of Torah scrolls. There is surely no market for stolen scrolls, so the only value they have is to anti-Semites who want to desecrate them. But I have never seen a report of someone privately desecrating a Torah.
Using new technology, it is possible to electronically “tag” a sefer torah so there is no question as to its ownership. This makes it increasingly difficult to market a stolen sefer. Its disturbing though that a thief could easily bypass any locks on the aron kodesh.
it is clear on the video that he puts on a Yarmulke.
This guy must be completely deranged. He can’t do anything with them. The moment he tries to unload them, the cops will be all over him. Might as well just turn himself in and face the music.
If you look behind him at the beginning of the video, you will see a second person…..
He certainly looks Jewish to me. The fact that he put on a kippa once he removed his hood indicates to me that he’s possibly a Sefardi Jew who’s Mesorti (traditional). Thus, he doesn’t wear a kippa on the street, but has enough Yirah to put one on in the shul. It a shame he doesn’t have enough Yirah not to steal. 🙁
At least he put his koppel on before he stole them!
We’re pple in the shul at the time he was?
to #3
are you out of your mind
its due to naieve people like you that there is a market for it
people buy used sefer torahs all the time without knowing the true origin
like that guy that was selling torahs saved from concentration camps that he found
and idiots actually bought it for big bucks
to #3:
these are sephardic sefrei torah.
The cases are made out of gold and silver. the case alone can cost $10K and more. even if he discards the Torah and melts down the case its big money.
t’s not another person behind him, it’s a mirror and he is looking into it. i hope that they caught him by now.
Maybe that’s because they don’t deserve to dance with the Torah’s.
Lets not forget how often their kids OD on HARD drugs. Like parents, like kids.