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

Steve Lieberman , Matt Spillane | The Journal News

Editor's note: The victim's age was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.

MONSEY — The brutal beating and stabbing of 30-year-old man on his way to morning prayers Wednesday has shaken residents in a usually quiet residential neighborhood.

The married teacher with young children was in critical condition after being attacked from behind by at least one person at about 5:35 a.m. as he approached the driveway to Mosdos Meharam Brisk Tashnad, a religious center with a synagogue, study center and ritual bath at 2 Howard Drive.

Rabbi Yisroel Kahan said the attack was unprovoked. "No words were exchanged and they pummeled him to the ground for several minutes."

CONCERN: Ultra-Orthodox community fears what could be behind attack on man heading to synagogue

Because he was unconscious and recovering from surgery today, police said they don't have descriptions of a suspect or suspects or any vehicle driven. Members of the community say two men attacked the victim and drove off in a car.

Police Chief Brad Weidel said video obtained from residents and the center were not high quality. He noted there was a lot of speculation about a motive behind the attack but said police needed evidence before drawing conclusions. He said no weapon has been recovered.

Weidel said during a news conference that he would not speculate on the motive for the attack or link it to the rhetoric aimed at Ramapo's Hasidic Jewish community during the election season.

"At this point ... I am not willing to say it's a hate crime," Weidel said. "That doesn't mean it won't be established through our investigation it's a hate crime."

He said classifying the attack as a hate crime must follow the statute. A person's religious affiliation "in and of itself does not necessarily mean we have a hate crime. We have to establish motivation and intent, and we're just not there yet."

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

Weidel said the department would increase patrols in the Orthodox Jewish community, whose residents and representatives voiced concern about the attack on a man walking to morning prayers.

Michael Ludmir, a neighbor in his 20s who attends the synagogue, called the stabbing "very scary" and a very "rare thing."

The most serious crime in the neighborhood is occasional break-ins into unlocked cars, he said.

"This is such a peaceful, quiet neighborhood," he said. "I don't know if they were hanging out in front of the entrance. ... It could have happened if I was walking with my wife."

Weidel encouraged people to come forward with any information about the incident.

Evan Bernstein, New York/New Jersey regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, said the organization will be offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. Bernstein noted previous incidents in Rockland and said people who are victimized need to report bias events to the ADL and the police.

'I don't feel safe'

The victim is the father of four children ages 1 to 9, said a first cousin, Mordechai Zwiebel, 15.

"I was so shocked, traumatized," Mordechai Zwiebel told The Journal News/lohud, adding, "I don't feel safe until these guys are caught."

Weidel said he heard concerns about safety from the Orthodox community "loud and clear." The police chief said they have stepped up patrols. But if anyone sees something, "they should call us right away ... time works against us."

Rockland County Executive Ed Day said during the news conference that the people of Rockland will say with one voice: "We will not tolerate any violence."

Attack described

Police responded to Howard Drive on a report of a pedestrian struck by a car, Ramapo police said. Upon arrival it was quickly determined that the man had been stabbed and slashed with an unknown weapon.

The victim was taken to Westchester Medical Center by Hatzolah Ambulance and was undergoing surgery. Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht said this afternoon that the victim remained in critical condition.

Howard Drive, off Ellish Parkway and Maple Avenue, is in the heart of the greater Monsey area, home to thousands of Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox Jewish families. Many would start their day with a visit to their nearby synagogue and mikvah, a ritual bath. Weidel said that the area where the attack took place is a typical, quiet suburban neighborhood.

Israel Altman, a member of Chaverim emergency services, said the man was about to enter the synagogue at 2 Howard Drive when he was "jumped and beaten and stabbed multiple times."

Video showed the two attackers had been driving around in the neighborhood before the attack, Altman said.

Weidel said the police are still reviewing video, but said that, "I wish it was of better quality." He hoped that other video footage would be discovered.

Police are being assisted by the Rockland County Sheriffs BCI unit and Chaverim of Rockland County.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist in the investigation "and examine all potential motives, including whether the attack may have been motivated by anti-Semitism," he said in a statement.

'Maybe someone is going to attack me'

The Rockland County Sheriff’s Department and Chaverim of Rockland are helping Ramapo police. @lohud pic.twitter.com/2hGAhOfcmW — Matt Spillane (@MattSpillane) November 20, 2019

Nuti Klein, 16, of Airmont attends the local United Talmudical Academy Satmar Yeshiva. He came upon the stabbing scene after leaving the mikvah at the synagogue. "I saw all the blood on the ground and all the emergency vehicles," he said, adding, "I am scared maybe someone is going to attack me."

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Lifelong resident and community activist Rivkie Feiner said she could not recall a violent crime like this happening in Monsey.

"I grew up here my whole life, I never remember anything like this happening. Not here in Rockland," she said.

Feiner called for increased police presence in the neighborhood.

"Our community will unify to protect ourselves." she said. "Our community needs to feel safe walking the streets."

Rockland County Legislator Phil Soskin, who has represented that area of Monsey for the past 17 years, said he was waiting to hear the results of the police investigation.

"It's a very quiet, peaceful area," said Soskin, a Democrat. "Ramapo has become a problem based on rhetoric. I hope and pray that the individual who was assaulted has a quick recovery."

State Sen. David Carlucci said in a statement: "This act of violence is horrific and not reflective of our peaceful community. Violence or hate of any kind is never tolerated. I pray for the victim’s recovery and expect police will find the suspects and bring them to justice."