Raussi Uthman, 30, also must pay $856,278 in restitution.
No one was injured in the fire at Temple Beth El in Syracuse, which caused more than $700,000 in damage.
``This sentence has nothing to do with your heritage,'' Judge Joseph Fahey told Uthman, who claimed he was being discriminated against.
``It is based soley on your conduct. It is the same sentence I would impose on a Nazi, Ku Klux Klansman or any bigot that would have burned down a house of worship. My only regret is that it can't be longer.''
Defense attorney Paul Carey immediately filed a notice of appeal.
``We will save our words for the appellate division,'' he said.
Uthman, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Venezuela to Palestinian parents, admitted committing the Oct. 13, 2000, burglary but said the arson was planned and carried out by his accomplice, Ahed Shehadeh.
Shehadeh, who is serving a five-year sentence for burglary and aiding and abetting an arson, testified that Uthman dedicated the arson to God, crying out in Arabic, ``I did this for you, God!''
Uthman's attorney argued the accomplice set fire to the temple to cover up their burglary, then implicated Uthman and concocted a religious motivation in order to cut a deal with prosecutors.
