Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Queens) stood in front of Congregation Ohr Natan in Rego Park today with Rabbi Nahum Kaziyev, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Queens), Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (D-Queens), Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) and members of Congregation Ohr Natan to announce legislation co-sponsored by Senator Jeffrey D. Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) that would protect houses of worship from vandalism and theft. In November, Congregation Ohr Natan was vandalized with anti-Semitic messages, threatening the community of Bukharian Jews who worship at the temple.

Assemblyman Lancman’s legislation (A.9288/S.6338), which responds to a recent spate of incidents perpetrated against houses of worship across the five boroughs, would increase penalties on those convicted of these crimes. The bill would:

· Increase the penalty for theft or the intentional damage to a scroll, vessel or any other item used in connection with religious worship in any house of worship, to a maximum of seven years in prison from four by classifying these crimes as third-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal mischief, both Class D Felonies. Currently, these charges would only apply in cases where items worth more than $3,000 have been stolen, or where items have sustained more than $1,500 in damages.

· Increase the penalty for theft of any scroll, religious vessel or any other item valued at more than $250 used in connection with religious worship in any house of worship to a maximum of fifteen years in prison from seven by classifying these crimes as second-degree grand larceny, which is a Class C felony.

· Increase the penalty for any intentional damage to house of worship-owned property to a maximum of four years in prison from one year, by making it a Class E felony. Currently, this penalty applies only where the damage is worth more than $250.

“Violating the sanctity of a house of worship through vandalism or theft violates our most fundamental values as Americans and New Yorkers, and merits the additional punishment which this legislation would impose,” Assemblyman Lancman said. ”Let anyone lowly or cowardly enough to consider defacing or stealing from a sanctuary think twice, knowing that such crimes will be taken extremely seriously.”

“An assault on a house of worship is an assault on an entire community,” said Senator Jeffrey D. Klein, (D-Bronx/ Westchester), the lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate. “I thank Assemblyman Lancman for partnering with me to finally make the punishment fit these reprehensible and despicable crimes.”

“The vandalism that occurred here in November was a disgraceful attempt to terrorize our congregation who come here daily for programs and services,” Rabbi Nahum Kaziyev of Congregation Ohr Natan said. “People have a right to pray in peace, and this sort of attack on any religious institution cannot and should not be tolerated.”

“In New York, and Queens in particular, we pride ourselves on diversity,” Senator Toby Stavisky (D-Queens) said in support of the legislation. “Our diversity gives us strength, and a crime of hate against one person is a crime against all of us. We must end the bullying and the fear, and have zero tolerance for those that would seek to divide us.”

“These attacks are a stark reminder that there still exists a startling level of hate that strikes from the cover of cowardly darkness,” said Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove), President of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators. “An attack on any religion is an attack against every religion and in response, our community must stand together.”

“The increase in anti-Semitic vandalism on our houses of worship has become a disturbing trend.” said Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz. “The best way to combat such heinous acts is to enact tougher penalties against those individuals. The message we send is clear. If you attempt to infringe upon the religious liberty of others through spreading messages of fear and hate, you will pay a very heavy price. Our communities will not be threatened with intolerance.”

“I know all too well the horrors of hatred; my grandfather was killed in Poland because he was Jewish,” Council Member Karen Koslowitz (D-Queens) said. “For the rest of her life my mother was fearful of anything that reminded her of those terrible days in Europe. I witnessed this fear firsthand growing up. Acts of hate only bring back those difficult memories. I strongly support this legislation because hate crimes are absolutely unacceptable and perpetrators must be handed as strong of a punishment as possible.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)