Molotov Cocktail Thrown at New Jersey Synagogue, Investigations Underway
On Sunday morning, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the front door of Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, New Jersey, before the suspect fled the scene.[0] The bottle made of glass shattered but did not cause any harm.[1]
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy tweeted on Sunday that he had been briefed about the incident, condemning the act and declaring that [3]there is no place for violence or hate in New Jersey.[3][2]
A joint investigation into the incident is underway by Bloomfield detectives, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.[4] Those who possess any information are urged to contact the Bloomfield Police Department Detective Bureau at 973-680-4084, or send any relevant video to detectives@bloomfieldnjpd.com, by the department's public safety division.[5]
In a joint statement, the Anti-Defamation League of New York/New Jersey, the Jewish Federations of North Jersey and other groups said they were [3]outraged[3] to hear of the incident, which came just days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day and within months of other security threats to New Jersey synagogues. In 2021, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported 2,717 antisemitic incidents in the United States, which marks a 34% rise from the year prior and is the highest number since ADL began tracking such incidents in 1979.[7]
Rabbi Marc Katz of Temple Ner Tamid said in a statement, “We have and will continue to do everything in our power to keep our community safe.[8] All went as planned.[9] The incident was captured on our cameras, and our shatter-resistant doors were effective.[10] I am unable to persuade our community not to become discouraged.[8] Hate is pervasive, and it will prevail if we do not prevent its spread.[9] Whenever this burden becomes too much, I remind my congregation that every day, despite our circumstances, babies are given names, children are taught, and marriages are celebrated within Jewish communities all over the world.[9][3]
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin also said his office was aware of a Saturday incident involving “an attack on members of a church in Monmouth County,” that was suspected of being bias-related, though he did not identify the church or its location, or describe what had happened.[11]
The police in Livingston, which is located about 8 miles west of Bloomfield, will be increasing their patrols of synagogues in the area due to the attack.[12]
0. “Molotov cocktail thrown at New Jersey synagogue, police say” The Hill, 30 Jan. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3835846-molotov-cocktail-thrown-at-new-jersey-synagogue-police-say/
1. “Your Daily Phil: Reactions to the Jerusalem attack + CUNY's chancellor on fighting antisemitism” eJewish Philanthropy, 30 Jan. 2023, https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/your-daily-phil-reactions-to-the-jerusalem-attack-cunys-chancellor-on-fighting-antisemitism
2. “A community is on edge after a man threw a Molotov cocktail at a New Jersey synagogue” WUNC, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.wunc.org/2023-01-30/a-community-is-on-edge-after-a-man-threw-a-molotov-cocktail-at-a-new-jersey-synagogue
3. “Rep. Sherrill Statement on Attack on Temple Ner Tamid” Mikie Sherrill, 29 Jan. 2023, http://sherrill.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sherrill-statement-on-attack-on-temple-ner-tamid
4. “Firebomb thrown at N.J. synagogue. No injuries, minimal damage reported.” NJ.com, 29 Jan. 2023, https://www.nj.com/essex/2023/01/firebomb-thrown-at-nj-synagogue-minimal-damage-reported.html
5. “Bloomfield synagogue attacked with Molotov cocktail, police say” Montclair Local, 29 Jan. 2023, https://montclairlocal.news/bloomfield-synagogue-attacked-with-molotov-cocktail-police-say
6. “Summit Police Increase Patrols After Attempted Arson At NJ Synagogue” Patch, 30 Jan. 2023, https://patch.com/new-jersey/summit/summit-police-increase-patrols-after-attempted-arson-nj-synagogue
7. “New Jersey police searching for man who threw molotov cocktail at synagogue” Fox News, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-jersey-police-searching-man-threw-molotov-cocktail-synagogue
8. “‘Do It For Kanye': Assault on Jewish Man and Arson Attempt on Synagogue Add to Wave of Antisemitic Hate Crimes in US” Algemeiner, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/01/30/do-it-for-kanye-assault-on-jewish-man-and-arson-attempt-on-synagogue-add-to-wave-of-antisemitic-hate-crimes-in-us/
9. “Man throws Molotov cocktail at New Jersey synagogue in arson attempt, police say” CNN, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/29/us/new-jersey-molotov-cocktail-synagogue/index.html
10. “A Man Threw A Molotov Cocktail At A New Jersey Synagogue” BuzzFeed News, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/new-jersey-synagogue-molotov-cocktail
11. “Masked Man Wanted After Hurling Molotov Cocktail At New Jersey Synagogue: Police” HuffPost, 29 Jan. 2023, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/security-amplified-new-jersey-synagogue-arson_n_63d6d8ede4b04d4d18e69be9
12. “Police: Molotov Cocktail Thrown at N.J. Synagogue in Arson Attempt” Newsmax, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/newjersey-synagogue-antisemiticattack/2023/01/29/id/1106392
