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
Cuts to rural healthcare become key issue for upstate votes in race for NY governor
The fight over a consolidation plan for a hospital in Hudson captures a trend throughout the state.
By
Samuel King
Published Oct 25, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. ET
NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
The deal would compensate over 1,300 alleged victims and help the church avoid bankruptcy.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
The deal would compensate over 1,300 alleged victims and help the church avoid bankruptcy.
By
Arya Sundaram
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
By
Arya Sundaram
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
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 .