Rabbi denounces rising antisemitism after stabbing on Manhattan's Upper West Side
A rabbi was stabbed on West 86th Street in Manhattan, surviving the attack, while the author blames inflammatory political rhetoric for fostering antisemitic hostility.
While leaving The Jewish Center on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Rabbi Moshe Grunhaus was stabbed in the chest a short distance from the synagogue and survived after the assailant was apprehended. The suspect has been charged with assault, attempted murder and a hate crime by the Manhattan district attorney. Rabbi Yosie Levine uses the incident to highlight a growing sense of insecurity among New York Jews, noting the increasing presence of security measures in synagogues.
He attributes this climate partly to political figures, specifically Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose repeated criticism of Israel and its leaders, including labeling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal, he says fuels antisemitic attitudes. Levine urges city officials to prioritize the safety of Jewish residents and to refrain from language that could legitimize hostility. The piece calls for community vigilance and moral clarity to prevent future attacks.
Why it matters
The stabbing underscores rising antisemitic threats in New York and sparks debate over political speech and community safety.
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