{"id":794833,"date":"2026-05-14T02:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T02:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/794833\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T02:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T02:34:14","slug":"nj-man-obsessed-with-judaism-pleads-guilty-to-federal-charge-for-ramming-car-into-nyc-synagogue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/794833\/","title":{"rendered":"NJ man obsessed with Judaism pleads guilty to federal charge for ramming car into NYC synagogue"},"content":{"rendered":"

A troubled New Jersey man who\u00a0rammed his car into a historic Brooklyn synagogue after his failed attempts to convert to Judaism\u00a0pleaded guilty to federal charges<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Dan Sohali, 36, pleaded guilty to damaging religious property for the Jan. 28 attack against the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights.<\/p>\n

Dan Sohali, 36, pleaded guilty to federal charges that could put him behind bars for up to three years. Kevin C Downs for the NY Post<\/p>\n

Sohali was reportedly fixated on converting to Judaism and, after facing rejection from several New Jersey synagogues, targeted the Brooklyn religious hub on the anniversary of the death of the Chabad movement\u2019s leader.<\/p>\n

On the evening of Jan. 28, the New Jersey man drove up to a sloped driveway at the Chabad, directed witnesses to move aside, and plowed his Honda Accord into the side entrance<\/a>. He reversed and accelerated into the building entrance four additional times until the front bumper of his car was destroyed.<\/p>\n

The door leading into the synagogue was knocked off its hinges, but no one was injured.<\/p>\n

When Sohali was arrested at the scene, he claimed that he lost control of his car.<\/p>\n

He was seen on video <\/a>merrily dancing with congregants at the same temple just 10 days before launching the attack. <\/p>\n

Sohali plowed his Honda Accord into a Brooklyn synagogue on Jan. 28. Daniel David Yeroshalmi via Storyful<\/p>\n

Sohali was reportedly obsessed with Judaism and sought guidance from several religious leaders. William C Lopez\/New York Post<\/p>\n

A rabbi told The Post that Sohali was removed from a yeshiva near his mother\u2019s home in Cantrell, New Jersey on Jan. 26 when he started behaving erratically, then became enraged when he was asked to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe made a statement that God had sent him,\u201d the rabbi recounted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t make a big deal of it. No police report. We didn\u2019t identify him. It was an annoyance. It wasn\u2019t anything other than an annoyance,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Sohali claimed that he lost control of his car \u2014 which hit the temple five times. David Yeroshalmi via Storyful<\/p>\n

Many worshippers who crossed paths with Sohali surmised that he was \u201cnot all there mentally,\u201d<\/a> but seemed genuinely interested in exploring the faith.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of characters come and go here. Obviously, in hindsight, he\u2019s not someone you ideally want coming into 770, but this is a welcoming place. Thank God no one was hurt,\u201d Chabad-Lubavitch congregant Mendy Klein previously told The Post.<\/p>\n

Sohali faces up to three years in prison. <\/p>\n

The state hate crime charges<\/a> he originally faced for the chaotic assault were dropped in favor of the federal case.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe defendant\u2019s dangerous conduct was a targeted attack on the religious liberty and peace of worship to which every American is entitled. Today\u2019s conviction sends a clear message: the Department of Justice will not tolerate acts of hatred and violence against religious institutions,\u201d Assistant Attorney General Dhillon said.<\/p>\n

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