Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Westboro Hate Freaks Bring Sad Circus To Brooklyn Synagogues
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 27, 2009
Modified Sep 27, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 12
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 27, 2009
Modified Sep 27, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday, the zany zealots of Kansas's Westboro Baptist Church were in Brooklyn, bringing their brand of hate to a few synagogues. And, like at Westboro's earlier protests, there were many more counter-protesters present (example: dog wearing a "Dog Loves Fags" sign vs. Westboro's "God Hates Fags" sign).
Outside the Temple Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Fucked in Park Slope reports that Rabbi Andy Bachman "blew the shofar! Right on the temple steps!," "instructed us all to do a rated G 'eff you' (my words, not his) by channeling the power of Groucho Marx for a big crowdsourced 'nah nuh nah nuh, foo foo,'" and "led us all in a pretty rockin' group version of 'Oseh Shalom' before the piece-de-resistance of the morn: A FLASHMOB HORAH as the crowd sang along with 'Hava Nagila.'" Of course, Westboro's Shirley Phelps-Rogers had previously warned, "Don’t flatter yourself, Brooklyn. We serve the living God. You mess with us, you’ll get double destruction for what you do."
Westboro Baptist Church is expected to protest outside St. Patrick's Cathedral today.
Tagged
brooklyn
hate
hate freak
synagogue
westboro
westboro baptist church
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 5:26 p.m. ET
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
Kyle Taylor, a dean at Mott Bridges Academy, says he made a legal bus transfer.
By
Carol Chen
News
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
Kyle Taylor, a dean at Mott Bridges Academy, says he made a legal bus transfer.
By
Carol Chen
National Grid customers in NYC will see higher gas bills this winter
By
Rosemary Misdary
Bruce Blakeman joins Gov. Hochul in support for expanding NY rape law
By
Jon Campbell
2 men accused of stabbing off-duty NYPD detective in the Bronx plead not guilty
By
Charles Lane
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .