Rockland Attack Latest In Region's Series of Hate Crimes

The 2019 Christmas season has been the occasion for a surge of violence against the Jewish community in the New York metropolitan area. The latest was a home invasion Saturday night by a knife-wielding man attacking people celebrating Hanukkah at a Rockland County rabbi's house.

Most of the region's suspected hate crimes took place in Brooklyn and involved attackers hitting, cursing and threatening people because they were Jewish. The first, however, was lethal: the massacre of people inside a Jewish deli in Jersey City, New Jersey on Dec. 10. SEE: 'Hate' Note Reportedly Left By Attacker In Jersey City.

The community is terrified, said Evan Bernstein, Regional Director for ADL New York and New Jersey, who before the Monsey attack had pointed out the terrible irony of anti-Semitic incidents occurring "during a time when society is supposed to come together in peace."

A string of anti-Semitic attacks in New York City plagued the first days of the Jewish holidays. SEE: String Of Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes Prompts Cop Surge:

• A man came into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters and threatened to shoot up the building.
• Three women were slapped in the face walking in Crown Heights. The woman who police arrested for the crime said she had attacked the woman because she believed they were Jewish, police said.
• A woman in Sheepshead Bay attacked a mother walking with her child. The woman called the mother a "f---ing Jew."
• One man was hit in the back of the head and another was harassed by a group yelling profanities, who then threw a drink on him.
• A man was hit in the face walking home.
• Two Hasidic Jewish boys, ages 6 and 7, were punched in their apartment building.

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said:

Again, here we are: mourning another act of senseless anti-Semitic violence committed against our community and praying for those who were the victims of this hate. This is at least the 10th anti-Semitic incident to hit the New York/New Jersey area in just the last week. When will enough be enough? These heinous attacks make something abundantly clear: the Jewish community needs greater protection. Whether worshiping in a synagogue, or shopping at kosher supermarket, or celebrating Hanukkah in the home of your rabbi, Jews should be safe from violence. We are calling for increased protection for the Jewish community now and for those in positions of power and leadership to guarantee that the full force of the law is brought down on those who perpetrate these horrific crimes.

The Rockland attack took place on Forshay Road in Monsey, at the home of Rabbi Chaim Leib Rottenberg.

About 100 people were in the basement celebrating the seventh night of Hanukkah when a man entered, stabbed four people with a long knife or machete, then fled. A fifth person was injured in the melee.

The alleged attacker, Thomas Grafton of Greenwood Lake in Orange County, was tracked down in Harlem by police within a couple of hours. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Sunday and was sent to Rockland County Jail. The judge set bail at $5 million.

“The attack last night on the Jewish community in Monsey is horrific and evil," said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "Disturbingly, this is not an isolated incident. In the past few weeks, New York's Jewish community has faced a surge in violence, and across the country, anti-Semitism is on the rise. We cannot, and will not, let this continue. We must all condemn these incidents, and work to ensure that every community is fighting against this rise in anti-Semitism."

The attacker comes from Orange County, where two of the people killed in Jersey City were buried. SEE: 2 Jersey City Shooting Victims Buried In Kiryas Joel.

It's the second attack on the Hasidic community in two months. On Nov. 20, two men stabbed a Monsey man walking to synagogue in the morning. SEE: $10K Reward Offered Over Worshipper Stabbing In Rockland.

The Rockland County community has been grappling for years with issues connected with the growth of the local ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, including zoning codes, building safety, real estate tactics and government corruption. Around the controversies have swirled anti-Semitic comments, accusations of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic vandalism.

The Saturday night attack was on another level, said a local politician.

"The horrific act of mass violence at a rabbi's home in Monsey yesterday, during Hanukkah, has shaken the very foundation of our community," said state Senator David Carlucci. "We are all deeply disturbed by the the perpetrator's callous actions and disregard for human life. Words matter, and we must call this hateful act on our Jewish community domestic terrorism."

Clarkstown police officials issued a statement Sunday saying "We are currently assisting Ramapo PD regarding the horrendous attack last night. Although there is currently no specific threat against the residents of Clarkstown you will notice an increased number of uniformed police around town."

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY17/Rockland-Westchester), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, issued a statement Sunday:

“I’m horrified by last night’s stabbing in Monsey during a Hanukkah celebration at the home of Rabbi Chaim Leibowitz Rottenberg. We must continue to pray for those injured in last night’s attack and their families.

“As we wait for more information, I stand united with the Jewish community in New York, which has endured an unacceptable string of anti-Semitic violence in recent days. We must not rest until all individuals of all faiths are safe to walk the streets and worship without fear.”

SEE ALSO:

• Hudson Valley Attack Horrifies Local, State, National Leaders
• Montvale Reaches Out To Rockland's Jewish Community: Wieder
• 'Hate Packets' Thrown On Clarkstown Lawns
• Rockland Leaders Grapple With Development, Anti-Semitism
• Political Signs with Anti-Semitic Undertones Appear
• County Lawmaker Calls For Summit On Rockland's Future
• Cuomo Directs NYSP To Investigate Swastikas Carved In Rockland
• $10K Reward Offered Over Worshipper Stabbing In Rockland

Patch Editor Colin Miner contributed to this report.