“When wine enters,” according to the Talmud, “secrets come out.”
The New York City Police Department is hoping for clues that might be revealed about a man wanted for breaking into a synagogue in Queens, N.Y., by “manipulating a basement door with a coat hanger” and then imbibing alcohol.
The man, who wears a black kippah in photos that police released on Friday, is accused of burglary at 144-49 72 Drive, per the police incident report that JNS viewed. That address is the address for the Orthodox synagogue Hashevaynu.
“Every Shabbos, over 150 people come together in tefillah (‘prayer’) and camaraderie, which makes the extremely warm Hashevaynu minyan unique and well-loved,” the synagogue website states.
The suspect, upon entering the synagogue at about 3 p.m. on Dec. 7, “opened two bottles of liquor and consumed the liquor in cups,” per the incident report.
“The unidentified individual fled the location on foot to parts unknown,” it added. “There were no injuries reported.”
In one of the photos that police released, the suspect looks at the surveillance camera and lifts up a plastic cup with a clear liquid in it.
NYPD Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $3,500 for information about the incident.
“Literally Temple Bar,” one social-media user wrote.
