Rising Antisemitic Incidents in New York City: Subway Assault and Stabbing

In a troubling escalation of antisemitic violence, two separate incidents targeting Jewish individuals occurred in Brooklyn within a 24-hour period during Hanukkah. The first incident involved an assault on a New York City subway, where a group of Chabad members returning from a Hanukkah event was verbally and physically attacked. The second incident involved a stabbing of a Jewish man in Crown Heights, a neighborhood with a significant Orthodox Jewish population.

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On December 11, 2023, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Xeryus Mack, 28, was arrested for assaulting a group of Hasidic men on a southbound 3 train near the Nostrand Avenue station. Video footage captured the moment when Mack and another individual hurled antisemitic insults and threatened to kill one of the victims. The group, consisting of eight young men from the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters, had just returned from a Hanukkah celebration in Manhattan. Although the NYPD is investigating the incident as a hate crime, the charges against Mack do not currently include hate crime allegations.

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Less than 24 hours later, on December 12, 2023, a Jewish man was stabbed multiple times on Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights. The assailant reportedly made antisemitic remarks during the attack. The victim was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The NYPD confirmed that this incident is being investigated as a hate crime, with officials stating that the attacker made anti-Jewish statements before the stabbing.

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The Jewish community in New York City has expressed deep concern over these incidents, highlighting a growing fear of antisemitism. Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, a community leader, emphasized that the subway assault was clearly antisemitic, contrary to the NYPD's initial assessment. New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned the violence, stating, “Evil, hateful, antisemitic violence must come to an end. We cannot let this hate persist in our city.”

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According to NYPD data, Jews are disproportionately targeted in hate crimes, accounting for 56% of the 516 total hate crimes reported in the city this year. This statistic underscores the urgent need for action against rising antisemitic incidents, which have left many Jewish residents feeling unsafe in public spaces.

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While the NYPD is investigating both incidents as potential hate crimes, there are conflicting perspectives regarding the motivations behind the subway assault. Some officials maintain that the altercation stemmed from a dispute over seating rather than bias, while community leaders assert that the attackers' comments clearly indicate antisemitic intent. The investigations are ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.

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The recent assaults in Brooklyn have intensified discussions about antisemitism in New York City, prompting calls for stronger measures to protect the Jewish community. As investigations continue, community leaders advocate for resilience and unity in the face of hate, emphasizing the importance of responding with light and pride in their identity.

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