Commemoration of Third Anniversary of the Monsey Stabbing Held

by M.C. Millman

A night of commemoration marked the third anniversary of the Monsey stabbing in which five men were attacked with a machete in the Monsey home of the Rebbe of Forshay, Rabbi Chaim Lewibish Rottenberg by 37-year-old Grafton Thomas of Orange County.

Tragically, Reb Yossel Neuman z"l,  age 72, succumbed to his wounds, dying three months after being injured by the machete-wielding terrorist that night who was later pronounced mentally unfit to stand trial.

Hosted by the Town of Ramapo, Supervisor Michael Specht, elected officials, and community leaders were on hand for the evening along with Israel's Deputy Consul General to New York Israel Nitzan,  NY Attorney General Letitia James, New York Human Rights Commissioner Maria Imperial, Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, Assemblyman Karl Brabenec, Jewish Federation & Foundation of Rockland County Co-President Steve Gold, and ADL NY/NY Regional Director Scott Richman among others.

"Hate knows no boundaries," Attorney General Letitia James addressed the crowd. "Hate doesn't discriminate, and it's relentless in its destruction if it's not confronted immediately and together as one, which is why we have to stand shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm, with no space between us. That's why as the attorney general  who knows hate up close and personal, stands with this community and will always stand with this community."

"It would be fitting that as we mourn the tragedy that took place in this holiday," Town Supervisor Michael Specht addressed attendees, "that we draw strength from the fact that the Jewish people are not going to be conquered, are not going to be driven out by antisemites, and are not going to succumb to hatred. To the haters out there, and we have haters far away, and unfortunately, we have haters in our County, the Jewish people in the Town of Ramapo, in the United States, and the world are not going away, and we will be here, and we will be part of this world."