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Monsey Stabbing: 5 Wounded at Rabbi’s Home in N.Y. Suburb Monsey Stabbing: 5 Wounded at Rabbi’s Home in N.Y. Suburb
(32 minutes later)
An intruder with a knife stormed into the home of a Hasidic rabbi in a New York suburb on Saturday, stabbing and wounding five people, officials said. MONSEY, N.Y. — An intruder with a large knife burst into the home of a Hasidic rabbi in a New York suburb on Saturday, stabbing and wounding five people just as they were gathering to light candles for Hanukkah, officials and a witness said.
The home of the rabbi, Chaim Rottenberg, is in Monsey, N.Y., an area with a large population of ultra-Orthodox Jews. It was a terrifying scene, the officials and witness reported, saying that the violence occurred at about 10 p.m. as numerous people were celebrating Hanukkah at the home of the rabbi, Chaim Rottenberg, here in Monsey, which is in an area with a large population of ultra-Orthodox Jews.
The attack happened during a Hanukkah party around 10 p.m., when a man entered the home and stabbed the five people before fleeing, officials said. “I was praying for my life,” said Aron Kohn, 65, who said he was in the rabbi’s home at the time. “He started attacking people right away as soon as he came in the door. We didn’t have time to react at all.”
Police officials announced around midnight that the attacker had been caught, but they did not immediately indicate whether they were investigating the violence as a bias crime. “We saw him pull a knife out of a case,” Mr. Kohn said. “It was about the size of a broomstick.”
Mr. Kohn said that after the attacker fled, he tried to enter a synagogue next door, but people inside apparently heard screams from the rabbi’s home and, fearful, locked the door so the attacker could not get in.
Police officials announced around midnight that a suspect had been caught, but they did not immediately indicate whether they were investigating the violence as a bias crime.
“The suspect fled the scene, but he is in custody at this time,” police officials said.“The suspect fled the scene, but he is in custody at this time,” police officials said.
Michael B. Specht, the town supervisor for Ramapo, which includes Monsey, said the attacker had been arrested in the 32nd Precinct, which is in Harlem. Michael B. Specht, the town supervisor for Ramapo, which includes Monsey, said a suspect had been arrested in New York City in the 32nd Precinct, which includes Harlem.
The attacker’s identity was not disclosed by the authorities. The suspect’s identity was not disclosed by the authorities.
“Obviously, there’s been a history in the region of violent attacks upon the Orthodox community,” Mr. Specht said. “This is something very nightmarish to have happen in our town.”“Obviously, there’s been a history in the region of violent attacks upon the Orthodox community,” Mr. Specht said. “This is something very nightmarish to have happen in our town.”
Yossi Gestetner, a co-founder of the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council for the Hudson Valley region, said five people were stabbed in the attack, and two were critically wounded. Among the victims was a son of the rabbi. Yossi Gestetner, a co-founder of the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council, a group that covers New York and New Jersey, said one of the victims was the rabbi’s son.
“The house had many dozens of people in there,” Mr. Gestetner said in a phone interview. “It was a Hanukkah celebration.”“The house had many dozens of people in there,” Mr. Gestetner said in a phone interview. “It was a Hanukkah celebration.”
Peggy Green, a Monsey resident who is Jewish, said she was at the Evergreen Kosher Market at around 10 p.m. when she heard that there had been a stabbing nearby on Forshay Road.Peggy Green, a Monsey resident who is Jewish, said she was at the Evergreen Kosher Market at around 10 p.m. when she heard that there had been a stabbing nearby on Forshay Road.
Ms. Green said the market, which is usually open until midnight on Saturdays and was busy with people shopping for Hanukkah parties, closed early.Ms. Green said the market, which is usually open until midnight on Saturdays and was busy with people shopping for Hanukkah parties, closed early.
Ms. Green, who lives nearby, said she tried to drive near the rabbi’s home but found Forshay Road blocked off by a long line of ambulances and police cars.Ms. Green, who lives nearby, said she tried to drive near the rabbi’s home but found Forshay Road blocked off by a long line of ambulances and police cars.
“It’s very scary,” she said, of being Jewish in Rockland County, adding that she thinks synagogues should have more armed security.“It’s very scary,” she said, of being Jewish in Rockland County, adding that she thinks synagogues should have more armed security.
Ed Day, the county executive for Rockland County, which is northwest of New York City, condemned the attack.Ed Day, the county executive for Rockland County, which is northwest of New York City, condemned the attack.
“Law enforcement in Rockland will leave no stone unturned as they bring those guilty of this crime to swift and severe justice,” Mr. Day said in a statement.“Law enforcement in Rockland will leave no stone unturned as they bring those guilty of this crime to swift and severe justice,” Mr. Day said in a statement.
The attack came after a surge in anti-Semitic violence in the New York region. On Friday, the police in New York City stepped up patrols in three Brooklyn neighborhoods after what officials called an “alarming” increase in incidents.The attack came after a surge in anti-Semitic violence in the New York region. On Friday, the police in New York City stepped up patrols in three Brooklyn neighborhoods after what officials called an “alarming” increase in incidents.
Last month, an Orthodox Jewish man was stabbed just steps away from a local synagogue as he was walking to morning prayers. The synagogue’s surveillance cameras showed a vehicle stopping near the man and then the attack on him, according to a manager there.Last month, an Orthodox Jewish man was stabbed just steps away from a local synagogue as he was walking to morning prayers. The synagogue’s surveillance cameras showed a vehicle stopping near the man and then the attack on him, according to a manager there.
No one has been charged in that attack, and officials have not determined that it was a bias crime.No one has been charged in that attack, and officials have not determined that it was a bias crime.
Rockland County, a collection of five towns northwest of New York City, has a population of more than 300,000 people. About 31 percent of the population is Jewish, according to the state, and the county has one of the largest concentrations of ultra-Orthodox Jews in the country.Rockland County, a collection of five towns northwest of New York City, has a population of more than 300,000 people. About 31 percent of the population is Jewish, according to the state, and the county has one of the largest concentrations of ultra-Orthodox Jews in the country.
The ultra-Orthodox population has surged particularly in recent years as Hasidic families from Queens and Brooklyn, priced out of their neighborhoods, sought to build communities elsewhere.The ultra-Orthodox population has surged particularly in recent years as Hasidic families from Queens and Brooklyn, priced out of their neighborhoods, sought to build communities elsewhere.
Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs contributed reporting.