24 Hours, Two BRUTAL Antisemitic Attacks

Police car and ambulances outside emergency room entrance.

A 35-year-old Jewish man walking on a Brooklyn street one block from Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters was stabbed in the chest after a stranger allegedly hurled antisemitic slurs at him, marking yet another violent attack in a city where fear has become a daily companion for visibly Jewish residents.

Story Snapshot

A Jewish man was stabbed near Crown Heights’ Chabad headquarters on December 17, 2025, in an attack investigated as an antisemitic hate crime
The assault occurred within 24 hours of another antisemitic attack on a New York City subway train targeting Chabad members returning from Hanukkah celebrations
The NYPD deployed dozens of additional officers to Crown Heights and released photographs of the suspect who remained at large
The attack coincided with heightened security concerns following a deadly antisemitic shooting targeting Chabad community members in Sydney, Australia
Jewish advocacy groups documented the incidents as part of an escalating pattern leaving many Jewish residents feeling unsafe in public spaces

Violence Erupts in the Heart of Jewish Brooklyn

The attack unfolded around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, at the corner of Kingston Avenue and Lincoln Place in Crown Heights. A verbal confrontation between the victim and an unknown assailant quickly escalated when the suspect allegedly shouted antisemitic slurs before plunging a weapon into the victim’s chest. The man was transported to Kings County Hospital where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and was released. The NYPD Hate Crimes Division immediately took control of the investigation while patrol officers flooded the neighborhood.

A 24-Hour Window of Terror

The Crown Heights stabbing represented the second antisemitic assault against Jewish New Yorkers in less than 24 hours. The previous evening, Chabad members traveling home from Hanukkah celebrations in Manhattan were assaulted on a number 3 subway train. Multiple witnesses reported hearing antisemitic comments during the attack, though the NYPD initially stated they lacked evidence to classify the subway incident as bias-based. The back-to-back nature of these assaults sent shockwaves through a community already on edge from international antisemitic violence.

International Context Amplifies Local Fear

The timing of the Crown Heights attack could not have been worse for an already traumatized community. Just days earlier, a deadly antisemitic shooting targeted Chabad community members during Hanukkah celebrations in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia. Krana Nebenzahl, a Crown Heights resident and Chabad community member, captured the collective anguish when she stated that everybody in the neighborhood felt connected to the Sydney tragedy. The global Jewish community, particularly Chabad adherents, operates as an interconnected network where violence against one group reverberates across continents.

Leadership Responds with Words and Officers

Mayor Eric Adams issued a forceful condemnation of the attack, declaring that evil, hateful, antisemitic violence must come to an end. Adams emphasized that the city would never back down and confirmed the NYPD Hate Crimes Division was actively investigating. Beyond rhetoric, the NYPD deployed dozens of additional officers throughout Crown Heights and released photographs of the suspect to the public. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. Security measures around Chabad headquarters, already tight, were reinforced further.

A Pattern Too Clear to Ignore

Jewish advocacy organizations characterized the attacks as part of an unmistakable escalation of antisemitic violence across New York City. Multiple groups warned that antisemitic incidents were increasing at an alarming rate, leaving many Jewish residents feeling unsafe when simply walking down the street or riding public transportation. The organizations called for stronger action against antisemitic violence and immediate, sustained intervention from authorities. Some advocacy groups launched real-time reporting apps to document incidents as they occurred, creating a digital record of a disturbing trend.

Community Safety Hangs in the Balance

Crown Heights has long been home to a significant Orthodox Jewish population, with the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters serving as a central institution for the global Jewish community. The neighborhood’s tight-knit character means that attacks on individuals are felt collectively. Residents expressed heightened fear about personal safety in public spaces, even in areas previously considered secure. The psychological toll of repeated violence cannot be measured simply in physical injuries treated and released from hospitals. When communities must constantly look over their shoulders, normal life becomes impossible.

Questions Without Easy Answers

The December 2025 attacks raise fundamental questions about the effectiveness of hate crime prevention strategies in major American cities. Despite public condemnations from political leaders and increased police presence, antisemitic violence continues to escalate. The disconnect between stated commitments to public safety and the reality experienced by Jewish New Yorkers demands honest examination. Community-police relations, trust in law enforcement, and the adequacy of resources allocated to hate crime prevention all deserve scrutiny. When multiple antisemitic attacks occur within a 24-hour window, something has clearly failed.