Synagogue Attack Probed as Attempted Murder
An explosive thrown through the window of a New Jersey synagogue and residence is being treated as attempted murder, the Bergen County prosecutor said.
The latest in a string of attacks that have hit the county’s synagogues recently took place Wednesday morning at Congregation Beth El in Rutherford. The Orthodox synagogue also doubles as a home for its rabbi, Nosson Schuman, and his family.
Schuman suffered slight burns as a result of the explosive, The Record newspaper reported. No one else was hurt.
In the past month, synagogues have been attacked in Paramus, Maywood and Hackensack. Police are unsure if the attacks are related.
Prosecutor John Molinelli will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday to talk about the recent attacks.
A previously scheduled meeting involving law enforcement and representatives of 80 synagogues and Jewish day schools to discuss enhanced security measures in the wake of the attacks will be held Thursday.
“This is getting out of control, this is so troublesome,” Joy Kurland, director of Jewish Community Relations for the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, which is organizing the meeting, told The Record. “This is beyond comprehension that someone could do such horrible harm to a rabbi and his family.”
The Anti-Defamation League is offering a $2,500 reward for any information leading to arrest of the perpetrators.
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