Westboro Baptists visit Brooklyn

Posted Wednesday, October 13, 2010 2:27 pm

Shirley Phelps-Roper, of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KS, and other members of the church held signs near Yeshiva Torah Temimah in Brooklyn, Monday, October 11, 2010. The church has recently received much publicity over the Supreme Court case over it's right to hold a protest near the funeral of an American soldier. A much larger counter-protest was also held.

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KS held signs near Yeshiva Torah Temimah in Brooklyn, Monday, October 11, 2010. The church has recently received much publicity over the Supreme Court case over it's right to hold a protest near the funeral of an American soldier. A much larger counter-protest was also held.

Assemblyman Dov Hikind stormed the police barracade around members of the Westboro Baptist Church, swatting at their signs, as the group stood near Yeshiva Torah Temimah in Brooklyn, Monday, October 11, 2010. The church has recently received much publicity over the Supreme Court case over it's right to hold a protest near the funeral of an American soldier. A much larger counter-protest was also held.

By Sergey Kadinsky

Issue of October 15, 2010, 7 Cheshvan 5771

Corralled behind a police barricade with only five demonstrators present, a tiny Kansas-based church brought the hate to Brooklyn’s Ocean Parkway. The Westboro Baptist Church, led by Fred Phelps and his family, is no stranger to controversy with protests in the past against military funerals, homosexuals, and anything else the 70-member cult believes is doomed to eternal damnation.

The target this time was the Diaspora’s largest Jewish community and Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of Fred Phelps, picketed outside three Brooklyn Jewish institutions: Midwood’s Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, Chabad of Kensington and Yeshiva Torah Teminah. Warned in advance, the yeshivas dismissed their students early.

In advance of Westboro’s arrival, a small crowd gathered on Ocean Parkway with its own signs poking fun of the church.

Columbia law school student Yitzchak Fogel held a sign that read: “G-d hates signs, but loves ice cream.”

“It’s so extreme, it’s become a parody of real hate and it brought a diverse group to respond,” Fogel explained about the cult.

Other signs advocated for free hugs and G-d’s hatred of traffic cops. The unusual display of solidarity featured openly gay college students alongside yeshiva students.

“We may not support gay marriage, but we do not hate gays. G-d does not hate gays,” said Avraham Rosenberg, 19

A few feet away, Shirley Phelps-Roper held signs thanking G-d for September 11 and blamed the Jews for killing Jesus.

“They killed their messiah, and what’s that beanie on your head? There’s nothing in scripture about it,” she said to an Orthodox Jewish reporter as he attempted to interview her.

Her daughter Megan Phelps-Roper, 24, was more forthcoming on the church’s views.

“The question is whether you are obedient to G-d. We read scripture every day,” said Megan Phelps-Roper.

One of her signs quoted Isaiah 48:22, “No peace for the wicked.” Another sign read, “G-d is your enemy.” She wore a shirt that stated: “Jews killed Jesus.”

Midway through the protest, Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind lost his temper and lunged at the protesters. He was restrained by police, as he warned the church to “Just be careful the rest of your day in Brooklyn.”

Hikind was not arrested.

Using the church’s apparently random choice of his Chabad house for its protest, Rabbi Moshe Levin publicized the activities of Chabad of Kensington.

“When we encounter hate, the Jewish response was always to increase acts of goodness and kindness,” said Rabbi Levin. “On October 18, we will hold a free food distribution.”

The church maintains a tight schedule of nonviolent protests around the country. The apparent emotional pain caused by the church’s protests has resulted in civil lawsuits, which the church battled on the grounds of free speech. One case, filed by the father of slain soldier Matthew Snyder, is currently being debated in the Supreme Court. The church picketed Snyder’s funeral, arguing that his death was G-d’s punishment for the government’s support of gay rights.

Outside Yeshiva Chaim Berlin, the mostly Jewish crowd kept the Phelps to a street corner. Taunted for their views, the Phelps clan danced and smiled back at the crowd. After the protest as the Phelps rushed into a waiting van, the crowd surged forth, pursuing them down Avenue I.

The church concluded its busy day of protest at the Hebrew Union College in Manhattan, a Reform seminary that ordains openly gay rabbis. On the school’s door, a rainbow-colored sign read, “Our diversity is our greatest strength.”

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