Jewish community, other faith leaders rally to denounce antisemitism after synagogue attack
Many in the Jewish community are urging Mamdani to do more to ease their fears.
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Members of the Jewish community and allies from other faiths rallied in Midtown on Wednesday five days after an attack at Central Synagogue.
The suspect is behind bars and facing federal hate crime charges.
“I saw the video of the attack in Central Synagogue, like I’m sure all of us did. And I didn't see any congregants stand up and fight back," said pro-Israel activist Lizzy Savetsky.
Five days after the incident, a rally was held steps from Central Synagogue where activists demanded stricter security and heightened vigilance for Jewish New Yorkers.
“An attack against any house of worship is an attack against every house of worship," said Rabbi Avi Weiss with the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale.
The incident happened last Friday night when 46-year-old Larry Montes barged into Shabbat services and is seen on video ranting at worshippers and assaulting a woman before being subdued by synagogue security.
He was arrested on the spot and charged with federal hate crimes. Prosecutors say he later described his rampage as "religiously motivated."
Central Synagogue is home to one of the oldest congregations in the city. Its historic sanctuary is more than 150 years old.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani was among many city leaders to condemn the incident.
“We know that in this city there is no room for antisemitism of this kind," the mayor said Saturday. "We are going to root out antisemitism from across the five boroughs. Every New Yorker should be safe to practice their religion.”
But it all comes amid a surge in hate crimes in New York -- swastikas in a playground in Queens, a Jewish worshipper stabbed on the Upper West Side.
For the first seven months of the year, there were 360 incidents. That's an increase of 9.4% and 56% of all hate crimes were antisemitic, an increase of 8.5%.
Many in the city’s Jewish community are urging the mayor to do more—and say more—to ease their fears.
“Mr. Mamdani, J'accuse! When will you understand that your viral videos have put a target on the face, on the sides, of every synagogue and every house of worship," Weiss said.
Others agreed.
“Use your power. Speak the right words. Don't speak words that encourage others to walk into a synagogue and to attack us," said Rabbi Binyamin Krauss with SAR Academy in Riverdale.
