New York Jews scared, defiant as mayor decries anti-Semitism ‘crisis’ across the US

Worshippers expressed a mixture of fear and defiance, rushing into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Heights two days after a stabbing spree at a rabbi’s house wounded five people

Mayor Bill de Blasio said he was increasing police presence in Jewish communities of New York, as well as adding security cameras and multi-ethnic community safety patrols

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Published: 7:34am, 31 Dec 2019Updated: 10:48pm, 31 Dec 2019

Police, state troopers and civilian volunteers stood guard at a Hasidic synagogue in Brooklyn on Monday as Orthodox Jews marked the end of Hanukkah under heightened security following a spate of attacks.

Worshippers expressed a mixture of fear and defiance, rushing into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Heights two days after a stabbing spree at a rabbi’s house wounded five people.

“Anti-Semitism has never been so bad. It’s becoming more and more of an issue. It’s crazy,” said 23-year-old Chaim Kaplan after completing his prayers Monday morning.

New York, home to the largest Jewish community outside Israel, had long been a place where Jews felt safe.