MONSEY – Law enforcement across the region has stepped up security around Jewish houses of worship following Saturday night’s brutal attack by a Greenwood Lake man on a Hanukkah party in Monsey.
The suspect, armed with machete, wounded five people.
Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco said no community is immune to this kind of violence.
“Nobody thinks it can happen in your home town, nobody thinks it can happen in your home county or your city; well people, it happened and it happened here,” he said. “We have over 90,000 people of the Jewish faith that live in Rockland County so it’s a major concern.”
The Hanukkah party was attended by ultra-orthodox Jews in a neighborhood not far from the Hasidic village of New Square.
To the north of Rockland County where this attack took place is Orange County where another Hasidic village, Kiryas Joel is located.
Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois said his department is keeping a close watch on that community.
“We have visibility there now and without going into too much detail, we are going to continue that visibility and at certain times, that will be increased and with our partners with the State Police also,” he said.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler everyone “must stand together and send a clear message that there is absolutely no room for hate motivated crimes here in Orange County, or anywhere else for that matter.”
He said anti-Semitic actions and messages “do not reflect the values of the overwhelming majority of Orange County residents” and he said anyone who engages in that activity will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted by his office.
