Manhattan synagogue makes $10G off of Westboro Baptist Church protest
BY Erin Einhorn and Irving Dejohn
DAILY NEWS WRITERSA Manhattan synagogue turned a visit from hate-spewing demonstrators into a lucrative fund-raiser Sunday.
Leaders of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, a West Village synagogue that caters to gays and lesbians, didn’t want to ignore a planned visit by members of the rabidly anti-gay and anti-Semitic Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church.
Instead, they asked supporters to pledge a dollar or more for every minute that six protesters stood near their synagogue hurling epithets and holding signs that read “God Hates Fags” and “Jews Stole the Land.”
The final haul after 50 minutes: $10,000.
“Their very presence will actually raise money for the mission of this community,” said Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of the synagogue, which now holds services in rented space. “The synagogue wants a building so we’re hoping this will help us get a building.”
The Kansas church, known for picketing soldiers’ funerals to say their deaths are God’s punishment for Americans’ tolerance of gays, has ramped up its demonstrations against Jews, who they say are sinners….
[link thanks to Charles at LGF]
June 25, 2009 at 1:33 pm
This is the usual fundraising tactic — villify the opposition to get the faithful to open their wallets. It’s awfully convenient of the opposed to make a special appearance. Too bad the good folks at the synagogue have to put up with their vile presence.
June 26, 2009 at 2:51 pm
But this is a great idea for getting rid of the Westboro nuts. Sell tickets to their ‘show’, and publicize how much money was brought in. Let them know that they’re benefiting a cause they hate.
The next step is to harass them with requests for appearances. It’s a very zen tactic -
September 3, 2009 at 7:27 pm
well as a proud CBST member
this comes as no surprise
the rabbi is a brilliant lady with a great sense of humour
this is at least a silver lining
on some gross homophobia, not to mention
anti-semitism
they should have sold tickets like the coney island freak show
in this day and age
this kind of bigotry should be considered FREAKISH