[Elder of Ziyon] "Attempted murder" against rabbi in New Jersey

From CBS New York:

Authorities are investigating a firebombing of a northern New Jersey home attached to a synagogue as attempted murder and bias-related arson.

The fire was reported around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday at Congregation Beth El in Rutherford.

Police say someone threw explosive devices through the window.

"Incendiary devices were used to attempt to start of a fire in the upstairs portion of the structure which is a residence," Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli told 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg.

Rabbi Nosson Schuman, who lives in the home with his wife and five children, said he saw a flash of fire outside his bedroom window before his bedspread caught fire.

"The fire in the bedroom, I had to go put it out. My quilt was on fire. I had to put it out," he told WCBS 880′s Sean Adams. "Got the kids out and realized that this must have been a continuation of the hate crimes that have been occurring throughout the area."

Schuman said damage to his home and congregation were minimal.

CBS 2′s Christine Sloan reports Schuman suffered burns to his hands but neighbors said he is doing okay.

Authorities say multiple devices were tossed at the home, including Molotov cocktails and rigged aerosol cans. All appeared as if they were being aimed at the second floor of the house.

Officials say whoever did this was targeting Schuman.

"At this point it's not just a hate crime and a bias crime. It's now an attempted murder," said Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli.

It comes just one day before a meeting between representatives of more than 80 synagogues, law enforcement and some Jewish day schools to discuss several incidents targeting Jewish temples in Bergen County.

There was a suspicious fire and two anti-Semitic graffiti incidents in the past few weeks.

It is a small Orthodox synagogue that looks like a converted house:

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Posted By Elder of Ziyon to Elder of Ziyon at 1/11/2012 03:25:00 PM