A Rutgers University student yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges that he helped a childhood pal attack New Jersey synagogues — including one firebombed on Jan. 3 while a rabbi, his wife, their five kids and the rabbi’s parents slept inside.

Aakash Dalal, 19, of New Brunswick, appeared in a Hackensack court in an orange prison jumpsuit and shackled at the waist. He is charged with conspiracy, aggravated arson, bias intimidation and criminal mischief and is being held in lieu of $2.5 million bail for allegedly showing Anthony Graziano, of Lodi, how to make Molotov cocktails.

Graziano has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of attempted murder. His bail was recently reduced from $5 million to $2.5 million.

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli says Dalal was the instigator in the series of firebombings allegedly carried out by Graziano, then 19.

The rabbi and his family escaped injury.