Wolfe Condemns Incendiary Attacks At Clarkstown Rabbis’ Homes

New City, NY (Aug. 10, 2016) – Rockland County Legislature Chairman Alden H. Wolfe is condemning the acts of violence carried out Tuesday night at the homes of two Clarkstown rabbis.

“The climate of hate that has been created on both the national stage and here in Rockland is unacceptable,” Wolfe said. “Words have consequences. A climate of hate has consequences.

“Legitimate policy issues are continually being mixed in with anti-Semitic rhetoric,” Wolfe said. “I’ve been saying for months that such words eventually turn into hateful, violent actions.”

Wolfe is calling upon the entire Rockland County community to call out hateful rhetoric when they hear it or see it.

“Elected officials should examine their own behaviors and take the appropriate steps to squash the use of hateful language and to quell any hateful and potentially deadly behavior,” Wolfe said.

The first incident was at the home of Rabbi Simcha Morganstern, where about 15 adults and children were gathered and where an incendiary device was set off under the gas tank of a parked car at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

A few seconds later a similar attack took place a block away at the home of Rabbi Avremel Kotlartsky, where a bush adjacent to the house was set ablaze. Morganstern is the new Associate Rabbi at Chabad of Rockland in New City and Rabbi Kotlartsky is the Senior Rabbi.

The Clarkstown Police Department and the New City Fire Department responded.