1
2
LAKEWOOD — An angry crowd of men shouted at police officers arresting a rabbi on Monday night, calling the officers "Gestapo," the secret police of Nazi Germany.
The man who was arrested was Yisrael Knopfler, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press — the Lakewood rabbi who joined an Essex County priest to sue the state in federal court over the shutdown orders. The religious leaders say the order is a violation of their First Amendment rights to practice religion.
State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan on Tuesday mentioned three arrests in Lakewood over violations of Gov. Phil Murphy's executive order but did not identify who was arrested or offer further explanation for the arrests.
The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office confirmed late Tuesday that Knopfler had been arrested at his home in connection to an event celebrating holiday of Lag B’Omer, which marks the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, according to the website Chabad.org. It is usually celebrated with outings, bonfires and parades.
Murphy's executive order prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.