Temple Israel shooter to be sentenced in federal court

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The man who pleaded guilty to firing a shotgun near a Jewish temple in Albany is set to be sentenced Tuesday in Federal Court. The Rabbi at Temple Israel shared how the community has been healing and how they are feeling a day before the sentencing.

Rabbi Wendy Love Anderson said, “This is a really regrettable thing that happened. And I hope that not only Temple Israel, but all of us can move forward and continue learning and communicating together.”

Anderson explained that December 7th, 2023, was supposed to be a day of celebration for the Jewish community, “We had a slightly festive evening planned because the first night of Hanukkah was that evening. And we were looking forward to actually having a concert for our preschoolers and their families.”

But things quickly turned to fear as 29-year-old Mufid Alkhader fired his shot gun in front of the temple. The chief of police at the time said the man yelled “Free Palestine” during the shooting. Rabbi Anderson said, “Most of the kids, from what I can tell, weren't really understanding what was going on and that was wonderful. But I'm also very grateful that it wasn't as bad as it could have been that our shooter was rapidly, you know, dissuaded from continuing.”

She said a medical transport driver intervened that frightful day and was able to get the gun out of Alkhader's hands, “We’re next door to Saint Peter's Hospital and they also had to lock down because of the situation.”

The rabbi said they have made safety changes but would not go into further detail as to what has been done. “We have taken additional security measures at really significant expense because the safety of our children, our worshipers and anyone who visits us is a top priority,” said Anderson.

The shooter is expected to be sentenced in Federal Court at 11 a.m. Tuesday and Rabbi Anderson said that the kids and adults that frightful day are healing but, “Some of them are still in pain and still processing that. I think some of them are looking forward to a kind of closure from tomorrow's sentencing.

The rabbi says they have received much support from non-Jewish groups and law enforcement. She tells NEWS10’s Reporter James De La Fuente they will not let fear win, “I think perhaps opening avenues for dialog is at least as important as having security measures, because the more people who know one another, who are neighbors, who have some common ground, the less likely I hope we are to have more violent incidents.”