Six Years After the Forshay Chanukah Stabbing, Leaders and Police Renew Commitment to Fight Antisemitic Violence

By Y.M. Lowy

Today marks six years since the terrifying Chanukah night in Monsey that shook the entire community to its core. In the home of the Forshay Rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Leibish Rottenberg, a place of light and warmth was suddenly turned into a scene of horror, when a machete-wielding attacker stormed in and brutally wounded five Yidden.

Tragically, one of those victims, Reb Yossel Neuman z״l, then 72, later succumbed to his injuries and passed away three months later. 

In the aftermath, Rockland mourned together, but also began a long process of strengthening and protecting Jewish life.

Congressman Mike Lawler addressed the tragedy, tying it to the rise in antisemitic violence worldwide:

“On this day in 2019, a man entered a Chanukah celebration in Monsey and began indiscriminately stabbing attendees. He was bravely confronted and eventually fled before being arrested by law enforcement.

Six years later, we will never forget Josef Neumann, who tragically lost his life due to the injuries he suffered that night. As we see a rise in antisemitism around the globe, and in the aftermath of the Bondi Beach terror attack, we must loudly call it out and stand together as a community.”

Assemblyman Aron Wieder honored the victims’ memory and said the attack strengthened his resolve to combat hate and improve public safety:

Today marks six years since the horrific antisemitic attack on Chanukah in Monsey, where five people were stabbed and we tragically lost Yosef Neumann, Hy”d. We honor his memory and the heroism of Josef Gluck, who confronted the attacker and saved lives.This act of hate strengthened our resolve to combat antisemitism. In the aftermath, as a Rockland County Legislator, I led the initiative to install License Plate Reader (LPR) cameras at all county exits—now managed by the Sheriff’s Office—to bolster public safety.We stand united against hatred, committed to keeping our Jewish community and all of Rockland safe. May the light of Chanukah prevail over darkness

The Jewish Federation & Foundation of Rockland County reflected this week on how that terrible night became a turning point for communal security:

“Six years ago today, the Jewish community of Rockland was shaken by a brutal antisemitic attack on a Chanukah celebration that injured five and claimed the life of Rabbi Yosef Neumann HY״D. This attack came as the American Jewish community was already reeling from deadly attacks in Pittsburgh, Poway, and Jersey City. 

You may not know that this series of events led directly to the conceptualization of the Community Security Initiative and the LiveSecure program enhancing the security of Jewish communities like Rockland.”

Since those programs began, thousands of volunteers have been trained, hundreds of vulnerability assessments completed, and a vast alert network has been established across shuls, yeshivos, camps, and mosdos. 

State Senator Bill Weber also marked the anniversary of the attack, stating:

“Today marks six years since the horrific Chanukah stabbing in the Town of Ramapo. Six people were brutally injured, and Rabbi Yosef Neumann tragically succumbed to his wounds. I will never waver in speaking out forcefully against antisemitism, hatred, and violence in all its forms.”

The Town of Ramapo Police Department shared that the tragedy reshaped how they approach protecting the community:

“Much of how we police and protect our community today is shaped by the hard lessons learned on that horrific night. We cannot be complacent. We remain focused on protecting the public’s right to worship, gather, live, and pray without fear.”

Six years later, as antisemitism continues to rise, the memory of that Chanukah night in Monsey remains painfully present.