12 Comments

• ce

  in this day and age, we need surveillance cameras. what more to say.

• Praying for a Miracle

  “…[the] synagogue is holding a rally to help locate a stolen Torah.”

  Do they actually expect the thief to show up at the synagogue rally with the Torah?

  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.

  It is hard to believe and painful to read when a Jew points to other Jews and cast upon them suspicions without any proof creates a huge chilul Hashem! Especially, when the accuser of fellow Jews is a rabbi! 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!

  We are praying that the Torah is quickly recovered.

  This has happened before to some shluchim.

  It is a painful lesson to learn for the victims and I hope all ends well with a recovery of the Torah, but for others – the preventive lesson is obvious:

  (1) Get a safe!
  (2) Use it!!
  (3) All the time!!!

  We must not rely on miracles (or the insurance claims).

  In the future:

  Keep ALL THE TORAHS in the safe at ALL TIMES.

  This was NOT done in this case, as the rabbi said, “Usually, the shul keeps its Torah scrolls in a safe, leaving one for regular use.”

  Key words:

  “Usually” – but not always, and not this time.
  “Leaving one for regular use” – the one that was left out of the safe was stolen.

  Hope you get back this one – we are all praying for a miracle!

• kop dr.

  how is it that u dont have a safe?

• Walmart

  Go to Walmart about 1 mile from your shul get a small rifle safe for the regular use Torah.

  No more the a few houndred dollars

• fromthepast

  I am an active member of this shul. You have never been there and you know nothing and I mean nothing about the security of this shul or efforts that are in place to keep it safe. I think the key word is that you know nothing about this shul. And as is the case with people who know nothing you should not engage in Lashon Harah and you should not make public comments. You act like you know and that you are smarter then the whole Jewish Community of Monticello. Instead of spewing your ignorance did you say a word of T’fileh for a wounded community of fellow Jews?, I doubt it.

  You are the model of what every Jew should try NOT TO BE!

• chaim36

  Chazak , Chazak, Rabbi Chanowitz is an unsung hero trying to keep the shule alive. I davened there over many years in the pre summer months and can say without reservation he is truly the epitome of a true Chabad rov.

• news.. money does NOT growe on trees.

  #3 & #4 .. giving advise on what the shul should do, I guess they think since its surrounded by forest , and money growes on trees.

• tasja

  There is MUCH that is not known to those who read these articles because of the sensitive subjects at hand.
  Only what is relivant to the reader is published.
  And even MORE not known to those who make wrong observations, because of the outpouring of critisizing.
  Rabbi BZ Chanowitz is an incredable Rabbi who has EVERYONE’S well being in mind, he choses his words carefully.
  The person or people that were involved knew what they were doing and to who.
  The entire community needs to pull together and bring this horrible person OUT so the police can deal with him/them.

• Frustrated

  I am frustrated with the common link between comments on nearly every news item. The sheer ignorance of the commentators, their frustration, negativity, insensitivity,and criticism would be comical if it was not a symptom of diseased minds.

  Why do you people feel the need to spew your venom and pollute the website? Does it make you feel better, holier, relief some tension or pressure?

  If you have nothing good to say, simply don’t say it! If you cannot control yourself, seek help.

• Traditions are sacred

  Traditions are important, especially for the very Orthodox. Historically, Jews have had synagogues under various harsh regimes of governments and unruly populace, but they NEVER resorted to install safes in the synagogue to secure their Torah Scrolls from pogroms, theft, vandalism etc. The likely reason is that traditionally the Torah Scrolls are the Holy Word that ought to remain accessible to all who seek it. It is ironic that Chassidic sect members urge that a synagogue should break from tradition and incorporate innovations by keeping the Torah Scrolls under lock and key in a safe. There are numerous other innovations that these same members frown upon such as introducing a microphone for the Cantor or an organ for the choir because it would break from tradition. Locking up the Torah Scroll in a safe, when it ought to be open and accessible to all who seek the Holy Word is a serious breach of tradition, and for the Orthodox, tradition is sacred.

• Should a House of Worship EVER be locked

  Should a House of Worship EVER be locked? Is a true House of Worship ever closed from business? Was the Temple in ancient Jerusalem ever locked? I think not!

  Can one pray only at certain hours and only on certain days? A Torah must be available to all who seek inspiration 24/7. Never locked away in a safe.

• Adaraba

  to 8 9 10 11 go speek to a rabbi to exzplane good ansers (chevra thayr r fremda reeding and riting bita halt zich ayn)