Park East Synagogue — Attraction in New York

I’m a Jew who works a block away. I was looking for a quiet place to meditate and connect to my spirituality for 15 minutes in the fresh air. After sitting on the steps for 30 seconds and settling into my practice, some hot headed guy with a security earpiece came out in a huff aggressively telling me that I have to leave, I trespassed etc. I tried to explain that I work near there and am a Jew and wanting to use the steps of the synagogue to practice my faith in solitude.

God forbid I sit quietly on their steps to commune with God for 15 minutes. Might accidentally let a homeless person use the unused exterior of their place of worship for shelter or...

I'm not going to leave a synagogue less than a five star but I'm a little confused why I was kicked off the steps of the back entrance. I have never seen anyone come in or go out that way. I'm Jewish. There are cameras everywhere and a Police station a few doors down. They are not paticularly comfortable steps to sit on. The reason I like to sit on those steps is because it's a temple and also because it's close to Police. A few criminals are paying people to harass me every day and when I'm on those steps is the only time they leave me alone....

My family are members here. I go here every Saturday (Shabbas) when I’m in New York. My cousin & younger brother are in charge of the new teen minyan that they finally brought back since before Covid. I suggest if you are teenager age, or you want to help out the teen minyan here… we have the morning prayers 10am kiddush 12pm and then right after a raffle for a nice prize, you might also see games played in the gym on Shabbas here for the kids to enjoy. Every Shabbas they have...