The incident took place shortly after 4:00 p.m. (local time) near the corner of Kingston Avenue and Lincoln Place – just one block from Chabad's headquarters.

According to police, the stabbing began with a verbal argument that initially appeared random between two men. The suspect walked away from the scene, but the victim, a 35-year-old man, followed him, and the two became involved in another confrontation that turned violent. According to reports, the attacker began cursing Jews and even said, "It's okay if the Holocaust were to happen again."

At this point, according to law enforcement sources, the suspect pulled out a sharp object and stabbed the victim in the chest. Despite the injury, the victim continued to chase the suspect for some distance. He was taken to Kings County Hospital, treated and released, with his condition described as not life-threatening.

Video: The incident on the subway / Credit: Mandy Asraf

Police are examining reports that antisemitic statements were made by the suspect during the confrontation – a detail that strengthens the suspicion of a hate crime. The investigation is taking place against a backdrop of growing tension in the Jewish community, partly following the attack in Sydney, Australia, and a recent antisemitic assault on the New York subway.

We just had a huge tragedy in Bondi Beach, and everybody in this neighborhood, in particular, is connected. We are all one body, literally, figuratively, and it's horrible," Crown Heights resident and Chabad community member Karna Nebenzahl said.

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"We traveled yesterday to light Hanukkah menorahs with Jews, to bring Jewish light to their homes. We met Jews from all walks of life and, after several hours, went down to the subway to the World Chabad Center. During the transfer between Line 4 and Line 3, a father and son were present. The father began attacking and cursing the boy, who appeared to be around bar mitzvah age. There were about eight of us boys, and I naively thought this was a mentally disturbed person."

He continued: "We entered the car together with him, and then he began shouting anti-Jewish slurs and making threatening gestures toward the boys and toward me. I started recording his actions, and then his son, who was standing in front of me and hadn't done anything, began attacking me, taking my phone, making gun signs at my head, and told me, 'If you don't give me your phone now, I will kill you.'"

Video: The incident on the subway / Credit: Mandy Azraf

Later, Mandy recounted that one of the boys tried to help him, but "the father of the boy who attacked me grabbed the boy by the throat and pressed him against a pole in the car. The moment the doors opened, we immediately fled, even though it wasn't the station we were supposed to get off at."

He pointed out that he received almost no assistance from the other passengers who witnessed the entire incident: "It was a difficult incident because no one tried to intervene and stop it. But the moment something physical started happening, two people tried to stop it, but most of the people in the car didn't do anything."

These assailants need to be found and arrested before they take another subway ride.

The assault on Jews happened on the 3 train in NYC which runs from Harlem to Brooklyn. https://t.co/vx48mPDcSB pic.twitter.com/AncGkdm5he

— Marina Medvin (@MarinaMedvin) December 16, 2025

Mandy and his friends, who were with him, filed a police complaint shortly after the antisemitic attack: "I sent the videos to an officer on WhatsApp, and they said they would check it. Today we gave testimony at the police station, they had us sign forms, and showed us pictures of the suspects. According to what we understood, the officers know their identities but haven't caught them yet."

Against the backdrop of the shocking massacre in Australia, Azraf warned about the rise in antisemitism also in New York and pointed an accusing finger at newly elected mayor Zohran Mamdani: "Yesterday the mayor of New York visited The Ohel [memorial site for Chabad leader] because of the attack in Sydney, but regarding what's happening in the New York subway, he's not protecting Jewish security and isn't condemning the incident."

Looking ahead, Mandy refused to bow his head: "It seems antisemitic incidents are starting to intensify. We're trying to protect ourselves, but it's clear we won't hide Jewish symbols. We'll continue to illuminate the darkness that's trying to prevent us from doing what we need to do."

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"As a rabbi in Sydney, I implore you not to betray the Jewish people and not God Himself," Rabbi Schlanger wrote. "This land was given by God to Abraham, then to his son Isaac, and then to Jacob, to be the eternal homeland of the Jewish people. Throughout history, Jews have been torn from their land again and again by leaders who are now remembered with contempt in the pages of history."

The rabbi wrote the letter following Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state and amid rising antisemitism in the country. "Today, you have an opportunity to stand on the side of truth and justice," he continued. "By reversing this act of betrayal, you will not only honor the Jewish people and our heritage, but also stand with the word of God. If you choose this path, you will be welcomed home with open arms and even a warm Shabbat meal. I bless you in advance for having the courage to do what is right and to stand firm against this act of apostasy. In hope and prayer, Rabbi Eli Schlanger."

Rabbi Eliyahu Schlanger, a Chabad emissary (שליח – a rabbi sent to serve Jewish communities worldwide) in Sydney, had recently celebrated the birth of his son. He had been responsible for a commemoration project for those killed in the Meron disaster and organized a memorial evening for emissaries murdered in recent years, including the Holtzberg couple from Mumbai and Rabbi Kogan from Dubai. According to Chabad, he did much to commemorate the victims of the October 7 massacre, and the security of the Jewish people was foremost on his mind. "The bullets of the vile murderers reached him at an event he organized for thousands of Jews – but no bullet can reach the enormous light he spread. He was an angel who took to heart the loss of Jews everywhere."

Shimmy Segal, Chabad spokesman, said, "This is a very difficult day. I knew Rabbi Eli, a very dear man who just weeks ago celebrated his son's brit milah (Jewish circumcision ceremony). This is a difficult situation to digest. This tragic and unexpected event occurred on the first day of Hanukkah (the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights) at a massive Chabad event, to our understanding, attended by more than 2,000 people. Eli, whom I knew personally, was one of the central emissaries in Sydney and the organizer of this event."

Segal added, "It's very difficult to speak about Eli in the past tense. He was a living man, full of energy, who led the community and was a good friend. He was a guy with a constant smile, an accessible person you could always turn to, and a father to a wonderful family. His character was revealed in full force when he visited Israel just days after October 7. He came on his own initiative to strengthen others, which speaks to a person who thinks only about how he can help others. Eli used to say a phrase that now takes on a chilling meaning: 'The whole world comes to darken – we come to illuminate.'"

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Video: Member of the public overpowers terrorist / Credit: Social media

"A few months ago, I wrote a letter to the Australian prime minister," Netanyahu said. "I said that their policy adds fuel to the antisemitic fire and encourages the Jew-hatred running rampant in Australia's streets. Antisemitism is a cancer, and it spreads when leaders are silent. They must replace weakness with strength. That did not happen in Australia, and something terrible occurred there today – cold-blooded murder. The death toll is unfortunately rising by the moment."

Netanyahu continued, "We saw the evil, and we saw Jewish heroism at its peak. On my way here, I watched a video of a Jewish man tackling one of the murderers, wrestling the weapon away, and saving who knows how many lives."

Breaking Exclusive by @SharriMarkson

Watch the video and read the letter sent by Netanyahu below.

A diplomatic row has erupted between Israel and Australia, and PM Netanyahu has sent a stinging letter to PM Albanese. In the letter he writes:

"I am concerned by the… pic.twitter.com/O6GIQL6khs

— Chaya's Clan (@ChayasClan) August 19, 2025

The Israeli leader's correspondence, leaked to Sky News Australia Australia and dated August 17, 2025, explicitly charges Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with "pouring fuel on this antisemitic fire" via Palestinian state recognition advocacy. Netanyahu contends such diplomatic positioning "rewards Hamas terror, hardens Hamas's refusal to free the hostages" while actively "emboldens those who menace Australian Jews and encourages the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets." Netanyahu called Albanese a "weak politician."

The correspondence establishes September 23, 2025 – coinciding with the Jewish new year of Rosh Hashanah – as Netanyahu's deadline for transformative Australian action against antisemitic escalation, Sky News Australia confirmed. The Israeli premier demanded Albanese "replace weakness with action" and "appeasement with resolve" through concrete policy initiatives addressing the crisis.

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Throughout the conversation with him, more and more prayer requests arrived for those wounded in the mass-casualty attack that occurred in his city. He said that one of the terrorists was young, born in 2001, according to a photo of his driver's license that circulated in Jewish groups in the city.

Video: PM Albanese on the Hanukkah massacre / Credit: Reuters

"I agree 100% with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who placed responsibility on the Australian government," Dr. Zeloof said firmly. "Australia has leadership that has allowed countless antisemitic incidents and let them pass without response. After the October 7 massacre, there were violent demonstrations calling 'death to Jews' and 'Jews need to be choked with gas.'

"There was one massive demonstration that blocked the Sydney bridge, the main artery of the city, and all this without response. Even when there are attacks on Jewish-owned businesses, there is almost no response from law enforcement authorities. This is a very dangerous slippery slope."

During the attack, Dr. Zeloof was celebrating the first evening of Hanukkah at another massive Jewish event in the north of the city. He testified that everyone was in shock, but no one was surprised. "There was deep sorrow in us and tremendous anger at the government that does nothing against this toxic wave.

"But without a doubt, the writing was on the wall. I spoke with people from the Jewish community's security, and they told me that such a scenario is their ultimate nightmare. They prepared for it. There were many community security personnel at the event I attended, and there was almost no police at all. The police only arrived after the attack began. Of course, I would have been happy to see much more police at such events."

Dr. Zeloof left England several years ago because he felt he couldn't carry his Jewish identity openly in the streets for fear that people would attack him. Until about two years ago, he felt safe in Australia, but recently, when those same feelings returned and arose there too, the Zeloof family has been planning their upcoming move to Israel in another two and a half months. He wants to emphasize that this step does not come from rejection or fear, but rather from love of Israel and a desire to be in a place where Jewish history is unfolding.

This evening, before he calmed his children and put them to sleep, he remembered how, when the news about the attack arrived at the event he attended, he saw Jews removing their kippas and fleeing in a run. "I am devastated and shocked by this attack, and I fear that following it, Jews will participate less in public events to strengthen Jewish identity and support for Israel. At the same time, I fear that such events will repeat themselves because I have no faith in the government to act forcefully against the desire to murder Jews. In my opinion, this is only the beginning."

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Chaim Levy, a Sydney resident, was present at the scene and survived the massacre. He told Israel Hayom, "We were there in complete shock. I was with my wife and two children, and we fled for our lives. I saw the bullets flying in every direction. I sat behind a car for 20 minutes with my child, waiting for the shooting to stop. It was non-stop shooting, and many casualties. According to testimonies, there were only about four police officers there."

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President Isaac Herzog received word of the terror attack at the Chabad House Hanukkah event in Australia while presiding over the Aliyah and Integration Ministry Prize ceremony for trailblazing immigrants. The president halted the proceedings to address the audience. "At this very hour, our brothers and sisters in Sydney, Australia, are under a terror attack during the lighting of the Hanukkah candle at a Chabad event at Bondi Beach," he said.

"Many Jews who came to light the first candle of Hanukkah in one of the most magnificent communities in the world were attacked by criminal terrorists," Herzog said.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was unsparing in his criticism. "The writing was on the wall. The Australian government bears responsibility," Bennett said. "A festive Jewish gathering turned into a scene of terror. A short time ago I spoke with leaders of the Jewish community. They are furious and afraid. For months, they have warned against a rise in antisemitism."

"The writing was on the wall and it was met with a blind eye from the government," Bennett added. "I demand that the Australian government act immediately to protect the Jewish communities and deal with antisemitism with full severity. Jews should not have to fear for their lives anywhere, including in Australia. I send my condolences to the families of the killed and pray for the well-being of the wounded. Your pain is our pain."

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar posted on X, "I'm appalled by the murderous shooting attack at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia. These are the results of the anti-Semitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years, with the anti-Semitic and inciting calls of 'Globalize the Intifada' that were realized today. The Australian government, which received countless warning signs, must come to its senses!"

Education Minister Yoav Kisch also linked the violence to policy. "I am deeply shocked by the severe antisemitic attack in Australia," Kisch said. "As a Jew, the heart breaks in the face of the stories and documentation from the murderous event. The decision of the Australian government to recognize a Palestinian state sent a terrible message, the results of which we unfortunately see today. The State of Israel embraces and will support the Jewish community in Sydney in the most difficult moments."

Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat said, "The Australian government failed to eradicate antisemitism and the hatred of Jews in its country."

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Moshe Kreiz, a Jewish resident who lives near the synagogue, said today that the motives were undoubtedly antisemitic: "The antisemitic arsonist tried to burn down our ancient and magnificent synagogue. He didn't steal anything, he could easily have taken the Tzedoka box that was full of money but just threw it down. He wasn't interested in stealing, he only wanted to hurt us, the Jews in this place and destroy our legacy. He came to carry out a pogrom  bringing out memories of Kristallnacht. Everything within the Synagogue is fire damaged. We will have to rebuild the synagogue internally from the ground up. He smashed windows, damaged the upper floors, caused electric cabling to melt leaving the building in a state of total disrepair like a broken heart. The murals on the walls and ceilings which were professionally restored by specialists are ruined along with the delicate mouldings which where specifically cast for this Synagogue, to emulate what was in its time of splendour & glory. The second floor the guest house, which housed over 2500 refugees during the war also needs to be rebuilt from scratch".

An emergency delegation of Hasidim led by the Sadigura Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Shalom Yosef Friedman Shlit"a, under whose leadership the synagogue has operated and had also overseen its renovation, arrived to Sadigura to witness the atrocities first hand. They collect the burned Seforim and ashes saying "These are scenes reminiscent of the Holocaust". After many painful hours gathering the burnt remnants of this fire a special prayer along with words of grief and sorrow where led by the Sadigura Rebbe, who is a great grandson and direct descendent of the founders of this Synagogue, under whose leadership and guidance the renovation had initially taken place just a number of years ago. The funeral proceeded by foot through the town followed by the Jewish community members of Sadigura and the surrounding neighbourhoods of the Chernivtsi province accompanied by Rabbi R' Mendel Glitsenstein of Chernivtsi, to the famous old cemetery in Sadigura where the Ohel of the Holy Ruzhiner Z'tl rests along with other family members.

The synagogue, known as the Kloyz Kaddisha and belonging to the Sadigura Hasidic dynasty, has been active since the 18th century. Many members of the community throughout the generations prayed and studied there, and it became one of the most significant spiritual centers of Eastern European Jewry. Generations of Rebbe's from the dynasty served there, and this building was designed by none other than the founder, Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin Z'tl.

The synagogue was built with great effort and underwent several renovations over the years. In recent years, millions of dollars where spent on its restoration by the generosity of the Rohr family of NY. This synagogue survived World War I and during World War II the building housed a camp of the Austrian army thus Red Cross flags were placed on its roof preventing it from being bombed by enemy aircraft. This synagogue was considered one of the most magnificent in Europe to remain standing after the Holocaust.

The Jewish community has publicly stated its resilience and determination to restore the historic building. Community members and leaders expressed hope that the synagogue "will be repaired and will continue to stand as a beacon of Torah, prayer and Hasidic heritage".

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The five-year-old daughter told her mother she saw the caregiver transfer soapy liquid into an alcohol bottle labeled "Jerusalem."

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Prominent figures at the event included New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Nominee Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, and National League of Cities CEO Clarence Jones. CAM noted that other attendees included Phyllis Dickerson of the African American Mayors Association, Sherri Tarr of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, US District Court Judge Roy Altman, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, and former Gaza hostage Almog Meir Jan.

At the concluding banquet at the Caesars Superdome, Mayor Adams unveiled executive orders prohibiting city personnel from boycotting Israel and securing religious freedom in New York. "I say to my Jewish brothers and sisters – your legacy in this generation is to say we run no more. We stand and fight. We don't live in fear, hoping that it goes away," Adams declared, per CAM. "We must stop antisemitism because we are all connected, and we're all involved in this together."

In conversation with CAM leadership, nominee Yehuda Kaploun remarked, "Fighting antisemitism is a moral obligation for all of us. Antisemitism is anti-American. Racism is anti-American. This is not what the Founding Fathers wanted for our country, and the fact we're having this conversation on the eve of America's 250th birthday means we all have a better job to do."

"Myself, the president, the secretary of state, and the entire administration are going to work tirelessly to make sure religious liberty, justice, and restoring respect for humanity for everybody is the goal," Kaploun continued, according to the organizers. "I will be your best partner, and the administration will be your best partner. Reach out, and I will help."

At the opening dinner, the host, Mayor Cantrell stated, "While we're standing together against antisemitism, we're standing together against every form of hate, wherever it is, and however it comes." She added, "It's not just about one, it's about all," and noted, "You can't stand against hate on just one side. It's all or nothing."

CAM CEO Sacha Roytman addressed the officials: "We know the responsibility that comes with leading a city, and we know that fighting antisemitism is only one of the many challenges you face. Your presence today shows that, like us, you are looking for solutions and you want your cities to be safe for the Jewish community and for everyone who calls them home."

"This summit is about ensuring that history does not repeat itself," Roytman stressed, per the report. "This summit is a call for leadership, courage, and partnership."

Lisa Katz, CAM's Chief Government Affairs Officer, told the plenary session, "Antisemitism is not a niche issue. It is racism. It is conspiracy thinking. It is dehumanization. And once it is unleashed, it never stays confined to one group."

"This summit is about a toolbox and a network – real relationships among mayors so you can lean on each other when any community is under threat," Katz added.

Mayor Smiley, heading the CAM Mayors Advisory Board, said, "I'm here at my third CAM conference, because I have found this conference to be exactly what mayors look for when we take time out of our schedule to travel – information that is informative, timely, and real practical and actionable steps that we walk away with. And right now we have a community in each of our cities that is under attack."

"I know that each of our communities is different, but it has gotten harder for all of us," Smiley observed, according to CAM. "We have a lot of work to do. There are antisemitic voices on the fringes of both sides of the political spectrum. While they may be fringes, I think we all know they are often loud, especially online. Your cities and towns need you, your Jewish communities need you, and every other online group in your community needs – whether they know it or not – to see you fighting for this issue."

CAM honored Mayors Nancy Rotering and Alix Desulme with the Mayor of Courage Award. "This fight against antisemitism requires more than just statements," Desulme said. "It demands education, especially from us, municipal leaders, who are on the frontlines every day, and we are closest to the people. We see the consequences of hate, misinformation, and vision, and our neighborhood are our front and center."

Josh and Julia Zuckerman provided testimony about vandalism at their home in New Orleans. "What happened to us can happen to anyone anywhere, in any city, in any home," they said, per CAM. "Please believe your Jewish communities when they say something is wrong. Take them seriously when they ask for help and security. Understand these threats are real. Be brave. Your leadership matters. Your voice matters. And your choices – what you condemn, what you fund, what you prioritize – can make the difference between a family feeling safe or feeling hunted."

CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities and former Mayor of South Bay, Florida Clarence Anthony advised the mayors: "Mayors set the moral tone in your communities. When you speak, speak unequivocally against hate, no matter what form it comes in. Stand up quickly. Respond responsibly around issues of safety. Encourage your residents to report hate crimes, because data tells the story. Build a collaborative coalition across your communities. And model courage."

US District Court Judge Roy Altman, reflecting on his family's survival of the Holocaust, stated, "We are not going back to the killing fields of Babi Yar and the gas chambers of Auschwitz, because it's not the American way," according to the report. "Because we as Americans, we object, and we will never let it happen again, so long as people of good faith like each and every one of you are willing to stand up and lead."

The summit featured workshops on extremist threats, student safety, and legal frameworks, alongside a City Action Lab led by former Mayor Gabriel Groisman. CAM noted that the event, supported by the City of New Orleans and other partners, follows previous gatherings in Frankfurt, Athens, Fort Lauderdale, Dortmund, Beverly Hills, Gold Coast, and Paris.

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