Woman arrested after breaking into Congregation Emanu El, spilling wine on Torah, harassing preschool students
 |
|
Ezra Law broke into Congregation Emanu El twice, was arrested twice, released twice and is now back in jail as of Monday, Jan. 23.
|
A woman broke into Congregation Emanu El in the early hours of the morning Saturday, Jan. 14 causing damage to both the building and a sacred Torah.
After spending six hours in the building – including drinking wine and spilling it on one of the Torahs – Ezra Law was discovered by security and arrested.
Law was soon released on bond, but instead of showing up at her court arraignment, she returned to Emanu El on Friday, Jan. 20, to disrupt a preschool class before fleeing.
Law, 33, was arrested later that day, but was released for a second time on Sunday, Jan. 22.
On Monday, Jan. 23, Law was taken into custody after a judge in the 232nd Criminal District Court revoked her bond. She is facing two charges - felony criminal mischief of a religious institution and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
The court also ordered a mental health evaluation and revoked her bond until the next hearing, which is expected to take place within the next two weeks. She was ordered to remain in custody until the next hearing.
The incident has shaken the Houston Jewish community, especially considering it happened one day before the one-year anniversary of a gunman taking four people hostage at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas.
“The events of this past week have made many of us concerned about our safety and that of our loved ones,” Emanu El Senior Rabbi Oren Hayon told the JHV. “Our security team is committed to ensuring the safety and security of congregants, staff and especially our children.”
Rabbi Hayon told the JHV that Emanu El’s security policies and protocols are under careful review to determine what further changes must be made to strengthen the security posture.
“Like all synagogues, ours is a place where we can bring our deepest hopes and most profound yearnings. We remain committed to preserving Emanu El as a place where our community can safely gather to pray, learn and celebrate together.”
Emanu El, which has thousands of congregants from all around Houston, is continuing to determine the extent of the damage caused by the intruder, which includes a broken window and wine stains on the back of a Torah scroll and carpeting.
The intruder was able to remain undetected and alone in the building because the alarm system had been deactivated while scheduled maintenance was being conducted the previous evening.
Once the intruder was discovered, security personnel detained her until Houston Police officers arrived to arrest her.
After the arrest, she was released on bond and forbidden from being within 1,500 feet of the congregation.
On Monday, Jan. 16, after her release, however, Law posted hateful messages on her social media accounts, including a post that read:
“Cost of spilling red wine on the Rabbi’s robes at Congregation Emanu El Synagogue Houston: $1,500. Cost of the royal blood of Jesus Christ that was spilt on the cross for your sins so that you may have reincarnation in my kingdom: Priceless.”
Following those events, Rabbi Hayon said Emanu El took several steps to increase security, including during religious school classes on Wednesday and Sunday and increased the visible police presence on campus.
Emanu El officials said they held multiple follow-up conferences with law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, and with Al Tribble, the Houston Jewish Community’s Security director.
These conversations included distribution of the offender’s social media posts and frequent explorations of the legal options. They also distributed Law’s photo to all Emanu El staff members to encourage continued vigilance.
On the morning of Friday, Jan. 21, however, the same intruder returned to the Emanu El campus.
She entered the building from the Sunset Boulevard entrance, through a door that had been propped open for workers who were loading equipment into the foyer.
The intruder entered the chapel and sat among the Becker School early childhood students and staff who were holding a Shabbat service at the time.
The Becker School director and Emanu El Cantor Rollin Simmons immediately recognized the intruder and swiftly summoned security personnel.
The guards attempted to discreetly remove Law from the chapel; however, she fled the building before police arrived.
The intruder was inside the synagogue building for less than five minutes this time.
One day later, on Saturday, Jan. 21, Law was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement for a second time.
However, Law was released a second time on bond Sunday, Jan. 22, and was scheduled for a court hearing Monday, Jan. 23.
“Our personnel failures and the breaches in Emanu El’s security over this past week are totally unacceptable, and we make no excuse for them,” Rabbi Hayon said in a joint statement with Emanu El president Stuart Gaylor and executive director David Lamden.
“Over the past few days, we have learned much about the shortcomings of our security systems and the protocols that were not followed carefully during these times of crisis.
“We have every reason to believe that our campus is safe for you and your families, and that all classes and programs at Emanu El this week will continue as scheduled.”
On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Emanu El said Lamden is no longer the synagogue's executive director and a transition task force is in place.
Emanu El is actively assessing – with the assistance of third-party professionals and consultants – and evaluating its systems, controls and protocols.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston has been in contact with leadership at Emanu El and is providing support.
Security Director Tribble has been working with the synagogue to respond to the situation, liaise with law enforcement and offer guidance on next steps.
Tribble also sent a security alert about the individual to the appointed security contacts at each Jewish institution – synagogues, schools, nonprofit agencies, Chabads, cemeteries) in the Greater Houston Area.
Tribble also attended the Emanu El Board Meeting on Sunday and offered recommendations for short-term solutions and steps needed for long-term security improvements.
Several immediate security changes include reducing the access points onto the Emanu El campus, employing a two-step verification process for visitors and increasing vigilance, reinforcement and communication about existing security protocols.
Also noted: Rice University students no longer will be able to cut through Emanu El’s campus to get to/from graduate apartments, which are located just north of the synagogue.
Emanu El also is providing emotional and spiritual care to its staff and community. This support will include the presence of its clergy’s pastoral counseling resources and trauma-informed counseling professionals, available, through the generosity and expertise of Jewish Family Service Houston.
“All of us recognize that this has been a difficult week for everyone, and that our homes and our hearts have been weighed down by anxiety, fear and uncertainty,” an Emanu El statement read.
“It is precisely by opening ourselves up to vulnerability and tenderness that we allow our synagogue to do its most effective work – but for this same reason, if our synagogue ever becomes a place where we feel unsafe or insecure, the pain of that breach becomes even more acute and hurtful.”
After spending six hours in the building – including drinking wine and spilling it on one of the Torahs – Ezra Law was discovered by security and arrested.
Law was soon released on bond, but instead of showing up at her court arraignment, she returned to Emanu El on Friday, Jan. 20, to disrupt a preschool class before fleeing.
Law, 33, was arrested later that day, but was released for a second time on Sunday, Jan. 22.
On Monday, Jan. 23, Law was taken into custody after a judge in the 232nd Criminal District Court revoked her bond. She is facing two charges - felony criminal mischief of a religious institution and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
The court also ordered a mental health evaluation and revoked her bond until the next hearing, which is expected to take place within the next two weeks. She was ordered to remain in custody until the next hearing.
The incident has shaken the Houston Jewish community, especially considering it happened one day before the one-year anniversary of a gunman taking four people hostage at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas.
“The events of this past week have made many of us concerned about our safety and that of our loved ones,” Emanu El Senior Rabbi Oren Hayon told the JHV. “Our security team is committed to ensuring the safety and security of congregants, staff and especially our children.”
Rabbi Hayon told the JHV that Emanu El’s security policies and protocols are under careful review to determine what further changes must be made to strengthen the security posture.
“Like all synagogues, ours is a place where we can bring our deepest hopes and most profound yearnings. We remain committed to preserving Emanu El as a place where our community can safely gather to pray, learn and celebrate together.”
Emanu El, which has thousands of congregants from all around Houston, is continuing to determine the extent of the damage caused by the intruder, which includes a broken window and wine stains on the back of a Torah scroll and carpeting.
The intruder was able to remain undetected and alone in the building because the alarm system had been deactivated while scheduled maintenance was being conducted the previous evening.
Once the intruder was discovered, security personnel detained her until Houston Police officers arrived to arrest her.
After the arrest, she was released on bond and forbidden from being within 1,500 feet of the congregation.
On Monday, Jan. 16, after her release, however, Law posted hateful messages on her social media accounts, including a post that read:
“Cost of spilling red wine on the Rabbi’s robes at Congregation Emanu El Synagogue Houston: $1,500. Cost of the royal blood of Jesus Christ that was spilt on the cross for your sins so that you may have reincarnation in my kingdom: Priceless.”
Following those events, Rabbi Hayon said Emanu El took several steps to increase security, including during religious school classes on Wednesday and Sunday and increased the visible police presence on campus.
Emanu El officials said they held multiple follow-up conferences with law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, and with Al Tribble, the Houston Jewish Community’s Security director.
These conversations included distribution of the offender’s social media posts and frequent explorations of the legal options. They also distributed Law’s photo to all Emanu El staff members to encourage continued vigilance.
On the morning of Friday, Jan. 21, however, the same intruder returned to the Emanu El campus.
She entered the building from the Sunset Boulevard entrance, through a door that had been propped open for workers who were loading equipment into the foyer.
The intruder entered the chapel and sat among the Becker School early childhood students and staff who were holding a Shabbat service at the time.
The Becker School director and Emanu El Cantor Rollin Simmons immediately recognized the intruder and swiftly summoned security personnel.
The guards attempted to discreetly remove Law from the chapel; however, she fled the building before police arrived.
The intruder was inside the synagogue building for less than five minutes this time.
One day later, on Saturday, Jan. 21, Law was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement for a second time.
However, Law was released a second time on bond Sunday, Jan. 22, and was scheduled for a court hearing Monday, Jan. 23.
“Our personnel failures and the breaches in Emanu El’s security over this past week are totally unacceptable, and we make no excuse for them,” Rabbi Hayon said in a joint statement with Emanu El president Stuart Gaylor and executive director David Lamden.
“Over the past few days, we have learned much about the shortcomings of our security systems and the protocols that were not followed carefully during these times of crisis.
“We have every reason to believe that our campus is safe for you and your families, and that all classes and programs at Emanu El this week will continue as scheduled.”
On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Emanu El said Lamden is no longer the synagogue's executive director and a transition task force is in place.
Emanu El is actively assessing – with the assistance of third-party professionals and consultants – and evaluating its systems, controls and protocols.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston has been in contact with leadership at Emanu El and is providing support.
Security Director Tribble has been working with the synagogue to respond to the situation, liaise with law enforcement and offer guidance on next steps.
Tribble also sent a security alert about the individual to the appointed security contacts at each Jewish institution – synagogues, schools, nonprofit agencies, Chabads, cemeteries) in the Greater Houston Area.
Tribble also attended the Emanu El Board Meeting on Sunday and offered recommendations for short-term solutions and steps needed for long-term security improvements.
Several immediate security changes include reducing the access points onto the Emanu El campus, employing a two-step verification process for visitors and increasing vigilance, reinforcement and communication about existing security protocols.
Also noted: Rice University students no longer will be able to cut through Emanu El’s campus to get to/from graduate apartments, which are located just north of the synagogue.
Emanu El also is providing emotional and spiritual care to its staff and community. This support will include the presence of its clergy’s pastoral counseling resources and trauma-informed counseling professionals, available, through the generosity and expertise of Jewish Family Service Houston.
“All of us recognize that this has been a difficult week for everyone, and that our homes and our hearts have been weighed down by anxiety, fear and uncertainty,” an Emanu El statement read.
“It is precisely by opening ourselves up to vulnerability and tenderness that we allow our synagogue to do its most effective work – but for this same reason, if our synagogue ever becomes a place where we feel unsafe or insecure, the pain of that breach becomes even more acute and hurtful.”
Reader Comments
Shirlee Rosenthal • srosenthal4@peoplepc.comJAN 23, 2023 • This is sad and heartbreaking. I can't say anymore. I am just heartbroken and sad about this.