Between Fear and Opposition in Monsey: "Jews Are Victims Everywhere"

The Orthodox community in the small town of New York is forced to exercise extreme caution, after the stabbings in the rabbi's house. On the other hand, its members make it clear - you can't be forever afraid. "We believe everything comes from the sky and we don't know the reason for things"

Between Fear and Opposition in Monsey: "Jews Are Victims Everywhere"

The morning after the attack with a big knife armed man broke into a Chanukah party and stabbed five participants, the Orthodox community in the small town chose to portray itself in two ways, sometimes contradictory.
One, a religious minority feels the fear of climax and has to exercise extreme caution.

The ultra-Orthodox residents who roamed around the scene of the attack on Sunday made a long list of attacks against their community: Last month there was another stabbing incident not far away, in Jersey City a kosher shooting attack led to the deaths of four, including two Hasidic Jews, and neighborhoods Religiousism in Brooklyn increased the flow of anti-Semitic attacks against the local Jewish population.

The Saturday night attack, at the home of Rabbi Haim Rotenberg, was only the latest heinous case on the long list of attacks that religious residents count.

"You see parents telling their children to wait inside the house until the school bus arrives," said Aaron Weider, a New York state lawmaker from Rockland County. "You see people who think twice before they go out into the street at night when it's dark. People are constantly looking behind their shoulders, making sure everything is okay."

But Monsey’s Orthodox residents also have a different story, a story of resistance. They make it clear that they will not agree to lock the synagogue doors, that they will not change their way of life and that the attackers will not let them determine how they will live and what they will believe.

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"Think twice before heading out into the street at night." Residents outside the rabbi's house yesterday (Photo: Ben Sells)

Jewish residents outside the home of the rabbi who was attacked in the city of Monsey, New York, December 29, 2019 (Photo: Ben Sells, JTA, image processing)

Less than a day after the attack on the rabbi's house, the doors of the nearby synagogue remained open, with worshipers coming in and out constantly, and without supervision. At the conclusion of the prayer, the male worshipers sat down for breakfast which included bagels, eggs and potatoes, while singing a Hasidic tune while the rabbi was teaching a Torah lesson. In the next room, oil tanks stood ready to light the candles at night, just like any of Chanukah nights. Nothing has changed.

Outside, police demonstrated a presence with patrol vehicles traveling around and several volunteers from the ultra-Orthodox "Friends" patrol around the synagogue. But bystanders did not see just security and precautions. They could also watch a huge, noisy parade going down the street, on the occasion of the Knesset Torah celebrations for a nearby synagogue. At the head of the procession was a huge inflatable crown truck and beside it were dozens of little children, flags in their hands and crowns of paper in their heads.

And so Monsey is dealing with the attack aimed at her - with a combination of caution, along with determination.
"On the one hand, something happened here and everything changed," said Zvi Rutenberg, the rabbi's nephew, who witnessed the stabbing attack. "But on the other hand, we are Jews, we believe that everything comes from heaven and we do not know the reason for things. Because we Jews believe, we know that Jews are victims everywhere, from the time of the destruction of the Temple to the coming of Christ, we are a nation of victims."

"Something happened here and everything changed." Volunteer in the Jewish community yesterday (Photo: Ben Sells)

Security man stands at the door of the rabbi's home in Monsey City, New York, December 29, 2019 (Photo: Ben Sells, JTA, image processing)

The dry facts of the stabbing attack do not let go of the residents. Four of the injured were released from the hospital on Sunday. Joseph Neiman, remains hospitalized in serious condition. Neiman, a retired fish trader in his seventies, underwent three surgeries to save his life. Rothenberg, the rabbi's nephew, said that Neiman used to spend most of his time studying Torah studies and in the vicinity of the synagogue.

"He is one of the most important people in the community. He is there all the time. Always very happy and sociable, he always has a good word to say," Rotenberg said of Neiman.

Some of the participants in the Chanukah candle lighting ceremony at the rabbi's house have been unable to sleep since the stabber burst into the house where they celebrated the seventh candle. Those who repeatedly repeated the events of that night to the many journalists gathered outside the home may be trying to figure out for themselves what exactly happened.

They were headed by Joseph Glick, the synagogue's son who became the hero of the day. He described how he saw the attacker, how he helped evacuate the revelers from the house and how he came back in and threw a table at the stabber's head. As he fled, Glick chased him down and recorded the identification number, leading to his rapid arrest. "I made a decision," he says. "I saw that no one is doing it and that someone must do it. I haven't slept since. I tried but my big son came to bed with me and then I had to go back to my synagogue already."

Community leaders are now trying to focus on the motive for the attack and on what can be done, if any, to stop the rising wave of anti-Semitism that is plaguing religious residents.

They were looking for a quality of life in Jersey City. Now, the ultra-Orthodox families feel threatened

Wider sees the stabbing attack as the latest link in the chain that began inciting social media years ago. As the religious population grew and as more Jewish residents moved to the towns surrounding Monsey, the voice of non-Jewish residents in the area did not see the growth and expansion of the community. Some of the posts of those residents, especially those who referred to all Orthodox Jews as one-sided, were seen as anti-Semitic. In an ad recently posted by a member of the Republican Party in the district, he stated that "if they win, we will lose." The "they", in this case, were the ultra-Orthodox residents. He also warned that Weider and his political partners are planning a "coup" in the county council.

"It started with people posting anonymous posts including terrible things against the Orthodox community, and continued that people continued to post things, but stopped hiding behind their anonymity," Weider said. "There are also the kind of 'soft' attacks you see in Brooklyn - when someone runs to a Jew in the back and flips his hat, or throws a stone at a Jewish building. Then comes the stabbings and shootings."

"Internal terrorism"

Yossi Gestetner, a local resident and founder of the Orthodox Public Council, says the very move of religious Jews to a new city is often seen as a negative step. He urged law enforcement agencies to clarify what the punishment for anti-Semitic offenses would be and to punish those responsible, to deter the next attacker.

Michael Specht, Monsey’s city superintendent, said he wanted to install license plate identification devices at the town entrance to monitor incoming traffic. Local police have stepped up patrol on Monsey streets. "Everything that is written about the Orthodox community is packed in a negative way. We have no way to win," Specht said.

Political leaders in the region have made it clear that they consider the attack an anti-Semitic event and New York State Governor Andrew Como called the attack "internal terrorism." But the suspect, as of now, has not made clear the motive for his actions.

Alexander Rosemberg, director of the Anti-Defamation League's community relations, pointed to the fact that the suspect came specifically to Monsey, more than half an hour from where he lived. "Every case needs to be examined. I don't think it's fair to the police or the community if we draw a direct line (to anti-Semitism) before the facts are known," he said.

Cross-road support. Residents protest against anti-Semitism (Photo: Ben Sells)

Residents of Monsey City, New York, Supporting Their Jewish Neighbors, December 29, 2019 (Photo: Ben Sells, JTA, Image Processing)

Outside the synagogue, on Sunday, a handful of non-Jewish residents of Monsey stood in support of their neighbors. "Stand firm against hate," and "love your neighbor," read the signs they held. "This anti-Semitism is cancer and we have to root it out," said Heather Kono, a primary school teacher and one of Monsey's non-Jewish residency. "That's why we have to come here and show our support."

On the other side of the road, the ultra-Orthodox residents are already preparing for the Knesset Torah procession. Some distributed hot coffee and pastry to journalists, others chatted about the night of the attack. On the sidewalk, families continued to walk, the baby carts in front of them, just like every day.

"Am I scared? Not at all," Glick said. "I am waiting for the Messiah to come. I am waiting for the Messiah to come and take us to Jerusalem. I do not intend to change anything in my way of life from yesterday, today and tomorrow. There is nothing to change. Just pray, pray and pray."