Standing Against Hate

A suspect seen on camera throwing a Molotov Cocktail at a synagogue in Bloomfield last Sunday has been arrested. Twenty-six-year-old Nicholas Malindretos of Clifton was charged with federal arson-related charges for the morning attack at Temple Ner Tamid.

On Thursday night, more than 1,000 people, including elected, civic, and interfaith leaders from across New Jersey, joined the congregation and local community advocates for an interfaith rally to “stand against hate in all its forms.” The rally came one day after the arrest of the suspect, but community members said they remain on edge as police work continues to determine the motive behind the attack.

“I do not have an answer to the hate in this world that brought someone to our doorstep with a Molotov cocktail,” said Rabbi Marc Katz of Temple Ner Tamid. “What I do know is that there are a lot of other communities who are feeling as equally bereft, as equally angry, as equally in search of hope as the Jewish community is after these events, and after every antisemitic event.”

Our Partners from NJ Spotlight News report on this story.

TRANSCRIPT

a suspect seen on camera throwing a Molotov cocktail at a New Jersey Temple has been arrested the suspect identified as 26-year-old Nicholas Malindretos of Clifton was charged with Federal arson related charges for the morning attack at the temple near to Mead in Bloomfield in the wake of the attack the temple announced its congregation would join together with Electic Civic and Interfaith leaders from across New Jersey along with local community advocates for an evening of prayer healing and unity the Interfaith rally comes one day after the arrest but members say they still remain on edge as police work to determine the man's motive for setting the synagogue on fire Ted Goldberg reports as part of our ongoing series exploring hate focusing on anti-Semitism racism and extremism good evening Temple near to meet welcomed more than a thousand people last night less than a week after someone threw a Molotov cocktail at its front door I do not have an answer to the hate in this world that brought someone to our doorstep with a Molotov cocktail what I do know is that there are a lot of other communities who are feeling as equally bereft as equally angry as equally in search of Hope as the Jewish Community is after these events and after every anti-semitic event we come together to say no to hatred against anyone no matter their race their religion who they are where they come from I am rattled I am tired Julie Roth was one of several leaders to condemn anti-Semitism she's the rabbi at congregation shomri amuna in Montclair and the daughter of a holocaust Survivor amazing with the ongoing stress of knowing that ignorance and hatred cause not only building in our public schools and vandalism on our playgrounds but also threats to us safety threats to our very lives and to the synagogues where we pray we are bearing around our tired necks the heavy weight of hatred while Sunday's attack targeted the Jewish Community speakers from all over the community emphasized love and unity God it is a long and lonely Journey from the valley of hate up into your mountains of love and so the congregation of Temple near to Mead has invited us here tonight to Walk This Road Together We all condemn all forms of terrorism hate speech bigotry anti-Semitism islamophobia and any rhetoric that encourages violence we can feel sad for somebody and we could feel angry for somebody but it's not as powerful as when we feel sad with someone and if we feel angry with someone leaders like Senator Bob Menendez showed support as well and explained how they're trying to prevent bigoted attacks like this in the future I am working with my Senate colleagues to increase non-profit security grant funding to houses of worship like near to Mid because no one should have to go practice their faith in fear or have their children go and practice their faith in fear to expand Holocaust Education in our schools to strengthen our hate crime laws Bloomfield is and always will be a place that values the dignity and worth of every human being attempting to set fire to a synagogue is an act designed to extinguish the purest aspects of humanity it is purely evil if we unite our voices together those Amplified voices Echo Through the Ages and through the locales is what we are doing here tonight police arrested a suspect on Wednesday Nicholas Malindretos a 26 year old man from Clifton authorities allege that he kept gasoline and lighters in his home along with a map with circled targets if convicted he faces 5 to 20 years in federal prison in Bloomfield I'm Ted Goldberg NJ Spotlight News leadership support for exploring hate is provided by the Sylvia a and Simon B poita programming endowment to fight anti-Semitism with additional major funding from Sue and Edgar wachenheim III Charlotte and David ackert the Peter G Peterson and Joan Ganz Cooney fund and Patty ask with Kenner additional support is provided by the tiger Baron Foundation Nancy and Morris W offit and Josh Weston [Music]

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