Hate Crime Charges Filed After Alleged Attack on Rabbi on Holocaust Remembrance Day
A suspect has been charged with a hate crime following an alleged assault on a rabbi in New York City on Wednesday, January 24th, the day after International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Eric Zafra Grosso, 32, is accused of approaching the rabbi, shouting antisemitic slurs, and physically attacking him in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens. According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Grosso allegedly yelled “Fuck Jews” before punching the rabbi in the face and chest, causing him to fall to the ground.
The victim is a member of the Bukharian Jewish community and was wearing a kippah at the time of the incident. Grosso, a resident of the Corona neighborhood, was apprehended by authorities at a subway station shortly after the attack.
“The gravity of this alleged assault is compounded by the fact that it occurred on International Holocaust Remembrance Day,” stated Katz.
Grosso faces charges of assault in the third degree, assault in the third degree as a hate crime, and aggravated harassment in the second degree. He could face up to four years in prison if convicted. He pleaded not guilty and was released pending a court appearance in March.
This incident underscores a troubling trend of antisemitism in New York City, where Jews are disproportionately targeted in hate crimes compared to all other groups combined. The attack in Queens occurred amidst a series of other antisemitic acts.
On Wednesday, January 24th, a Jewish man was reportedly verbally assaulted while shoveling snow in Brooklyn, with a suspect allegedly shouting, “Go eat that Jew.” Last week, two teenagers were arrested for defacing a playground in a Jewish area of Brooklyn with dozens of swastikas. Furthermore, last month in Queens, protestors reportedly chanted in support of Hamas outside a synagogue and Jewish school.
These incidents highlight the urgent need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to combat antisemitism and ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities.
