WOODBOURNE — On July 1, Jacob Billig, a representative of the newly formed Sullivan County Coalition Against Antisemitism (SCCAA), said there were reported acts of antisemitism in Woodbourne and South Fallsburg. The SCCAA, a coalition of eight Sullivan County synagogues, condemned the reported acts, which they said included eggs being thrown at a local rabbi in front of his synagogue in Woodbourne and at other Jewish individuals in South Fallsburg.

“It is outrageous that in Sullivan County Jews are being attacked at or near their house of worship solely because of their religion,” Billig said. “We commend the Fallsburg Police Department and other local law enforcement for their swift action to investigate these horrific incidents of hate and bigotry.” 

Billig said he had seen the reported attacks in an online post and also said, “I have no other facts other than eggs were thrown out of a moving car at Jewish individuals, including the Rabbi.”

Billig was referring to a video which shows black and white security footage of what appears to be two Hasidic men walking along the road. The camera follows the two men as they walk to the right, then a car passes going in the other direction, and the two men turn around and watch the car drive away. 

The Democrat reached out to Detective Kyle Geraine of the Fallsburg Police Department, who confirmed that there was an investigation into the incidents and said more details would be released when the case is closed. 

According to the website of ‘The Woodbourne Shul’, the victim of the alleged crime is Nikolsburger Rebbe, who serves as Rav of the historic “Congregation Bnei Israel” shul in Woodbourne “that is a nerve center of Jewish life in the Catskills.”