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A rabbi was physically assaulted in Queens, New York, on Tuesday afternoon, as the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Police detained a suspect shortly after the attack in the Forest Hills neighborhood. The rabbi did not sustain serious injuries, according to authorities.
Earlier today, around 2:30 p.m., Queens Shomrim received a phone call regarding an assault involving a rabbi from our community, our volunteers responded immediately, after the suspect fled the scene Queens Shomrim located him at a nearby train station, NYPD was notified right… pic.twitter.com/bJOFriueI2
— Shomrim Queens (@ShomrimofQueens) January 27, 2026
Elected Leaders Describe a Hate-Fueled Assault
In a joint response, several New York City and State officials — including NYC Council Member Lynn Schulman, Sen. Joe Addabbo, Sen. Leroy Comrie, State Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, and Assemblymember Sam Berger — characterized the attack as “a targeted act of hate” directed at a visibly Jewish victim. They expressed solidarity with the rabbi and with Jewish residents across the city, emphasizing that the incident did not occur in isolation.
The officials stressed that assaults against Jews increasingly reflected a broader climate in which antisemitic hostility has become normalized, emboldening perpetrators to act openly.
.@Grace4NY, @SenJoeAddabbo,@LeroyComrie, @AM_AndrewHevesi, @SamBergerNY and my statement on the antisemitic attack that took place today in Forest Hills, Queens. pic.twitter.com/2JKF8AEyOI
— Lynn Schulman 舒曼琳 (@Lynn4NYC) January 28, 2026
From Incitement to the Street
The statement pointed to a sustained increase in antisemitic incidents across New York and nationwide. Officials warned that when hateful rhetoric goes unchallenged, it creates the conditions for physical attacks.
They underscored that preventing violence requires confronting antisemitism early — before words translate into action. Failing to do so, they said, leaves Jewish individuals exposed to targeted harm in public spaces.
Violence on a Day of Remembrance
The timing of the assault heightened concern. International Holocaust Remembrance Day is intended to reinforce historical truth and serve as a warning about the dangers of unchecked hatred.
An attack on a rabbi on that day starkly illustrated how those lessons are being ignored. Instead of remaining confined to online discourse or protests, antisemitism continues to manifest in direct attacks against Jewish people.
Authorities have not released additional details about the suspect or potential charges. Jewish advocates reiterated that the incident highlighted an urgent need for accountability, enforcement, and leadership in confronting antisemitic violence before it escalated further.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
