Posted to Chabad News on

Rabbi Benzion Chanowitz at a Chanukah event in the synagogue.

Monticello, NY [CHI] — Someone broke into the Landfield Avenue Synagogue, AKA Chabad of Monticello, NY, on Friday or Shabbos and stole the Sefer Torah. Rabbi Benzion Chanowitz and his congragation arrived at the shul on Shabbos morning, horrified to discover that the Shul was ransacked and the Sefer Torah was missing.

Sefer Torah Stolen from Monticello Chabad House

Rabbi Benzion Chanowitz at a Chanukah event in the synagogue.

Monticello, NY [CHI] — Someone broke into the Landfield Avenue Synagogue, AKA Chabad of Monticello, NY, on Friday or Shabbos and stole the Sefer Torah. Rabbi Benzion Chanowitz and his congragation arrived at the shul on Shabbos morning, horrified to discover that the Shul was ransacked and the Sefer Torah was missing.

The burglar came in through a rear window sometime between 4:00 PM Friday and 9:30 AM Shabbos morning, according to village police.

The torah was described as having a blue mantle.

Anyone with any information is asked to call village police at (845) 794-4422 or (845) 791-8477.

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8 Comments

  • chesed

    all chabad houses (and others…homes, stores, etc) should have surveillance cameras. donate one to your favorite cause today

  • B R A D

    What’s the robber going to do with it? Try to sell it? It won’t get very far. Rabbinicals or Yiddin don’t just buy Sefer Torahs on the black market from individuals. This robber did a stupid crime for nothing. He will get his just rewarded. Personally, I’d smash his head in.

  • Torah safe

    Lock you torahs in a safe. Not doing so is irresponsible. this is not the 1st sefer torah that has been stolen in the last 12 months but could be the last if safes are used.

  • Reuvan

    The shul is not a chabad house it is a modern Orthodox town shul! ! Maybe the Rabbi’s home.

  • Monticeloo house owner.

    The Shul is indeed (not a Chabad house but) the town Shul, It was built before Rabbi Chanowitz was born, But thanks to R. Chanowitz you have some Yidishkeit in Monticello.

  • I Am Shocked

    The media reported that the rabbi accused (or raised the possibility) that a Jew may have stolen his Torah.

    “…as hard as it may be to believe that a Jewish person would do such a thing,” said Rabbi Benzion Chanowitz.

    For a Jew to point to other Jews and cast upon them suspicions without any proof creates a huge chilul Hashem! This is exactly what our enemies want to hear!

    A stolen Torah is tragic – I pray that the Torah is recovered soon, but a chilul Hashem is unforgivable – sadly it is impossible to rectify!

  • Arieh

    Regardless of what type of Shul it is, the Aron Kodesh (& all Aronei Kodeshes) need to have secure locks with controlled keys. I was the Gabbai for a period of time and was responsible for 18 Sifrei Torahs in several Arons. I made sure every Aron Kodesh was locked up at all times (except during Krias HaTorah).