Monsey Rabbi Recalls Attack, Gives Blessing At Cuomo's Address

Rabbi Chaim Lieb Rottenberg, at whose home in Monsey five people were injured in a machete attack during a Hanukkah celebration, gave a blessing before Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address in Albany Wednesday afternoon.

The speech took place at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. The large audience included state officials including judges, members of the state Senate and Assembly.

In his blessing, Rabbi Rottenberg asked God to bless the state, and "in this critical time for New York and the entire nation bless us with the strength to heal the wounds of hatred."

The rabbi reminded the audience of the machete attack on people in his home celebrating the seventh day of Hanukkah.

"Our community in Monsey was the target of a horrific act," he said.

But he said he would never forget the resilience on display that night and following days, the resilience of the Jewish people and the resilience of New York. He thanked the governor for his efforts to protect his community's way of life and broaden its security.

One of the first things the governor did when he took the podium was to address Rabbi Rottenburg.

"I speak for all the people of the state of New York when i tell you we stand in solidarity and love with you and your community," Cuomo said. "What happened to you and your community is intolerable. We will not stand for it and we will defend you."

About 100 people were at the rabbi's home next door to Congregation Netzach Yisroel on Dec. 28 when a man entered, slashed four people, then fled. A fifth person was injured in the melee. One of the celebrants took down the license plate of the van the attacker left in and reported it to police, who picked up the van's track on a traffic cam shortly afterward.

The driver and alleged attacker, Grafton Thomas of Greenwood Lake in Orange County, was arrested in New York City. He faces local attempted murder charges and federal hate-crime charges.

One of the victims of the machete attack is a grandfather in a coma at Westchester Medical Center.

"One of the injured, a senior congregant, remains in extremely critical condition; he needs our prayer," Rabbi Rottenburg told the audience.

Cuomo had prefaced his speech with the release over the past week of 34 proposals, from preserving more public land in the Hudson Valley, to promoting the craft beverage industry by repealing Prohibition era laws, to banning repeat and high-risk sexual offenders from accessing the MTA subway, bus and rail systems.

During the speech he suggested working with Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to coordinate a system that legalizes adult use of marijuana safely and fairly.

Helping the state's growing homeless population and building more affordable housing were on his priority list.

He called on the legislature to pass protections for so-called independent contractors and pass comprehensive paid sick leave, saying that while the current economy works brilliantly for innovators, shareholders and billionaires it too often fails workers. He hopes to expand the state's child-care credit.

He also said he would propose funding to make sure New York is properly counted during the 2020 Census.