West Orange Officials Decry Molotov Cocktail Attack On NJ Synagogue

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Township officials in West Orange have issued statements condemning a Molotov cocktail attack on a nearby synagogue in Bloomfield that took place early Sunday morning.

A man wearing a ski mask threw the ignited weapon at Temple Ner Tamid on Broad Street in Bloomfield. The glass bottle broke, but didn’t damage the building, according to the Bloomfield Division of Public Safety.

Bloomfield police released video surveillance footage of the incident on Monday. Read More: Video Shows Man Hurl Fiery Molotov Cocktail At Bloomfield Synagogue

West Orange Mayor Susan McCartney, Council President Tammy Williams and council members Michelle Casalino, Asmeret Ghebremicael, Bill Rutherford and Susan Scarpa issued a joint statement in the wake of the attack.

They wrote:

"At approximately 3 a.m. on January 29, an unknown individual wearing a ski mask ignited and threw a hand-thrown incendiary weapon known as a Molotov cocktail at the front door of the Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield. Thankfully, the device did not work as intended and the damage was limited."

The local officials said they and the entire West Orange municipal government denounce "cowardly acts of hate perpetrated against our Jewish brothers and sisters anywhere."

"Acts of antisemitism or bias attacks against any faction of our society, whether physical, verbal, or symbolic cannot be tolerated," West Orange officials said, adding the following plea for "neighborly love":

"Such heinous and despicable actions against any one group or individual are considered an attack against us all and our deeply rooted community values. Neighborly love, unwavering unity, and mutual respect will rule the day as West Orange will work to set the standard in always recognizing cultural diversity as our impregnable strength. Those residents who bore witness to the Holocaust and the sacrifice of our World War II Veterans is the enduring legacy of our fight against bigotry today."

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