The prayers of hundreds gathered Saturday in a Jericho (Long Island, NY) synagogue to observe the Jewish New Year were interrupted by a most earthly concern — a threatening tow truck.

According to several people who attended a morning Rosh Hashanah service at the Jericho Jewish Center, Rabbi Marvin Richardson stopped the service to warn celebrants that a tow truck was at work in a shopping center lot across the street where many of their cars were parked.
“There was like a gasp from everyone there,” said Malka Bernstein, 47, a stockbroker from Jericho. “It was almost like a panic with so many people trying to get out to move their cars.”

Bernstein and others estimated that between 100 and 200 people left the service to move their cars.

It turned out that the car towed during the service had broken down and was taken at the owner’s request, said Jim Dolon, a security guard at the synagogue.

“It was apparently a misunderstanding that got blown way out of proportion,” he said.

The tow truck might not have caused such a stir except that the night before, three synagogue visitors who Dolon said walked home in observance of Jewish law returned Saturday morning to find their cars towed.

“There should have been a certain amount of respect for people worshipping, and apparently there wasn’t,” he said.

The lot in question is shared by Whole Foods, CVS drugstore, Marshalls department store and other businesses. The lot has long been a favorite — though technically illegal — parking spot for people going to the synagogue, especially on holidays.
ND