Jewish Press of Pinellas County

Well-known NYC rabbi was drawn into Texas temple hostage negotiations




Among the details that trickled out during the hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, TX, on Saturday, Jan. 15, was the fact that Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi at New York City’s Central Synagogue and a leading figure in Reform Judaism, was conscripted into the negotiations.

“I can confirm that the gunman reached out to me twice yesterday by phone,” Rabbi Buchdahl wrote in an email to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “We are about to share a note with the congregation just confirming that. Other than that for security reasons I cannot share more.”

It is unclear why Rabbi Buchdahl wound up on the phone during the nearly 12-hour standoff, which began during Congregation Beth Israel’s Shabbat morning services. But Buchdahl is widely known — even appearing as a clue recently on “Jeopardy!” — and her synagogue’s name, which refers to its location in New York City, may lend its itself to the impression it is an official hub of power in Jewish communities.

Central Synagogue’s executive director and president said in the email to congregants that Rabbi Buchdahl had no prior relationship with the gunman and she “immediately contacted law enforcement and followed their directions” after he contact her.

A law enforcement source told the New York Post the gunman called Central Synagogue directly and demanded to speak to Rabbi Buchdahl. The gunman told the rabbi he had a bomb and wanted her to use her influence to secure the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a convicted terrorist who is in a federal prison in Texas.

“It was a surreal and scary day,” Rabbi Buchdahl told JTA. “I am so grateful for the outcome.”

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