Reward Offered for Stolen Torah

By COLlive reporter

The Landfield Avenue Synagogue in Monticello, NY is offering a $6,000 reward for the safe return of their stolen Sefer Torah.

The Torah was discovered missing last Shabbos morning by Shliach Rabbi Benzion Chanowitz, upon arriving at the Shul and seeing a messy office and the Aron Kodesh open.

Rabbi Chanowitz suggested the burglary and theft was a hate crime and he said it is unfortunate the congregation will have to take action.

“We will have to put on alarms and timers and we are going to start putting in cameras, we will have to change windows, and why, why can’t we live in peace?” he questioned.

Over 100 people, Jews and Christians alike, attended a rally on Sunday in support of the synagogue and efforts to locate the Torah.

Monticello Police Chief Douglas Solomon has his own theory as to who the scroll was stolen.

“This is definitely done, in my opinion, to instill fear and send a bad message to the religious community,” he said. “Crimes like this are horrific to say the least and it’s troublesome and that’s all the more reason why we have to bring this to a successful conclusion,” he said.

The chief said they are working on a number of leads in the case.

In the meantime, a $6,000 reward is being offered for its safe return.

Flyers are being distributed to catch the attention of the perpetrator, “If you stole our Torah and would like to return it without getting into trouble.”

The flyer urges the theif or theives to “Hurry and bring the Torah back yourself, if the police find you first, they will prosecute you to the full extent of the law.”