Since 2018, antisemitic hate crimes have increased in New York State by 89% and account for 44% of all hate crimes since October 7th.
By Shula Rosen
Following October 7th, 2023, antisemitic incidents have increased globally, including in New York, home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel.
Since 2018, antisemitic hate crimes have increased in New York State by 89% and account for 44% of all hate crimes since October 7th.
There was a total of 477 antisemitic hate crimes reported in New York State last year.
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said, “The fight against hate crimes requires community, faith, and political leaders willing to take an active role in denouncing hate, investing in reporting, prevention and protection, and enhancing educational efforts.”
Currently, the NYPD is searching for a man who accosted a 65-year-old Jewish man on the Upper East Side, yelled, “Hitler was right,” lowered his medical mask, spat in his face, and walked away.
Earlier in the month, an orthodox Jew was injured in an antisemitic stabbing attack outside of Lubavitch Headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
The assailant confronted a group of Jewish men near 770 Eastern Parkway, the center of operations of the Chabad – Lubavitch Hasidic movement.
Attempting to provoke the men as they passed by him on the street, the assailant shouted “Free Palestine,” as well as a series of antisemitic slurs.
The men ignored him, according to a report by COLLive, a news site catering to the Chabad community, and the suspect turned his attention to another group of passersby.
Harassing them and making death threats, the suspect attacked several young men, shouting, “Do you want to die?”
Drawing a knife, the suspect stabbed one young man and attempted to stab another.
When the Jewish men confronted him, the assailant fled, prompting several of the men targeted to pursue the suspect, as others called to officers positioned in the area.
The suspect was apprehended following the chase and taken into police custody.
He has been identified as 22-year-old Vincent Sumpter.
The victim was in stable condition and was treated for his wounds.
Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, a Chabad activist in a social media post. “This is an extremely serious incident.”
“The victim could have been killed. This act of hateful violence highlights the dangerous impact of anti-Semitic incitement and hate propagated by some local politicians and leaders in New York and across the United States,“ he said.