Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on November 23, 2019

The Chaverim of Rockland command center vehicle is parked on Howard Dr. in Monsey Nov. 21, 2019. The day after a man was stabbed on the street. Peter Carr, pcarr@lohud.com

MONSEY Residents and worshipers still traumatized by a man being brutally stabbed going tosynagogue on Wednesday saw a long white Charverim command center on the blockand Ramapo police cars patrolling the neighborhood Thursday.

The increased security offered some comfort for neighborhood residents and worshipers as police said the 30-year-old teacher and father of four remains in critical condition at the Westchester Medical Center after surgery for multiple stab wounds.

"Very scary," Jacob Kalman said ashe walked intoMosdos Meharam Brisk Tashnad, a religious center with a synagogue, study center and ritual bath at 2 Howard Drive near where the stabbing took place.Kalman said the man was attacked in front of his house, close to the synagogue.

The Chaverim of Rockland command center vehicle is parked on Howard Drive in Monsey Nov. 21, 2019. A man was stabbed on the street the day before.(Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)

MONSEY:Stabbing of man walking to morning prayers shakes community: 'I don't feel safe'

TENSIONS: Ultra-Orthodox community fears what could be behind attack

"All the kids are traumatized," Kalman said. "It's unbelievable that this happened. Hopefully, we'll get over it."

Jacob Kalman of Monsey at Mosdos Meharam Brisk Tashnad, near where a stabbing occurred the day before on Howard Dr. In Monsey Nov. 21, 2019. (Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)

The man was walking to shul at about 5:35 a.m. when a car stopped on Howard Drive and he was attacked from behind by at least one man, police said. Two of the synagogue's dozen cameras captured the attack,according to officials.

Police Chief Brad Weidel has said thevideo obtained from residents and the center wasnot high quality and descriptions of the attacker and the vehicle were not released since the image wasfar from clear.He said the department plans to enhance the video through the Rockland Sheriff's Office, or the state police or FBI.

Weidel said detectives have not been able to interview the man stabbed, given his critical condition and doctors are planning additional surgery for him.

"They hope once the victim is able, they will have a conversation with him," Weidel said. "And the hope is he can provide information to help us solve this case."

He noted there wasspeculation about a motive behindthe attack, including the fact the man is a Hasidic Jew,but saidpolice needed evidence before drawing conclusions on whether the attack constituted a hate crime. He said he and the detectives are not being dismissive of people's theories.

"A lot of people are speaking out," he said. "We will make decisions based on the facts."

Charverim's presence on the block offered another resource to residents and added security. The volunteer organization patrols the Monsey area, helping residents and being the eyes and ears for the police when there is a crime or incidents.

Tzvi Teicher of Chaverim of Rockland on Howard Drive In Monsey Nov. 21, 2019, the day after a stabbing occurred.(Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)

Police said they hope people will provide them with information on the attack or speak to volunteers inside the 25-foot vehicle, a former mobile library. The department can be reached at 845-357-2400.

The Chaverim of Rockland command center vehicle is parked on Howard Drive in Monsey Nov. 21, 2019. A man was stabbed on the street the day before.(Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)

Detective Lt. Michael Colbath said the department "isaware of the concerns and have concentrated patrols in and around area. The matter is of high concern and priority. "

Dozens of men carrying their religious shawls and prayer books entered and left the synagogue for morning prayers Thursday.Many said they were still hurting and concerned about the attack, not understanding why a person going to prayer was beaten and stabbed multiple times.

Many of the worshipers declined to give their names for fear or retaliation.

A man walks by the crime scene tape from a stabbing that occurred the day before on Howard Drive In Monsey Nov. 21, 2019.(Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)

Those who attacked the man could face felony charges including attempted murder and first-degree assault, officials said.

Evan Bernstein, the New York/New Jersey regional director fortheAnti-Defamation League, said the organization is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction of the assailant or assailants.

Bernstein, who attended a Ramapo news conference on Wednesday,called the attack horrifying, noted previous incidents in Rockland and said people who are victimized need to report bias events to the ADL and/orthe police.

He citedugly statements on social media about Hasidic Jews, including a Republican campaign video targeting the community called "A Storm is Coming."

Many times, Hasidic community members call Charverim or Hatzoloh Ambulance Corp., bypassing the police.

Ramapo police said officers responded to Howard Drive after a 5:48 a.m. report Wednesday of a pedestrian struck by a car. Upon arrival it was quickly determined that the manhad been stabbed and slashed, police said.

Weidel called the assaulta vicious, violent attack" during a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, hours after the attack.

Could it be a hate crime? Of course, he said, adding police hadto meet legal guidelines before making that determination. First, he said, police need to identify and arrest the attackers.

Ramapo Police Chief Brad Weidel speaks at town hall about the stabbing near a synagogue on Howard Dr. in Monsey Nov. 20, 2019.(Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)

Weidel said the police were reviewing video from the nearby area but declined to release a description of any suspects. He said he needed time to confirm the details before releasing it publicly.

Rabbi Yisroel Kahan said the attack could have resulted froman escalation in anti-Semtism and bigotry in Rockland and New York City.

"It started out a few years ago with swastikas on the ground on the buildings, on the trees and has escalated," he said.

He cited hatred and bigotry and anti-Semitism on Facebook.

"We do know there is a wave of hatred and bigotry," he said. "An Orthodox Jew is attacked on his way to synagogue. Fortunately it happened in front of a busy synagogue and people were able to help him."

MONSEY: Stabbing of man walking to morning prayers shakes community: 'I don't feel safe'

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TENSIONS: Ultra-Orthodox community fears what could be behind attack

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Monsey stabbing: Security increased near synagogue but tensions and concerns remain - Lohud

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