Heroic Hanukkah Celebrant Honored

RAMAPO, NY – A quick-witted man who helped victims and police deal with a machete attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Monsey last week is being honored by local leaders.

On Tuesday, Congresswoman Nita Lowey joined Michael Specht, Town of Ramapo Supervisor, and American Jewish Committee’s chief executive, David Harris, to honor Josef Gluck for his bravery and quick response during Saturday evening’s attack in Monsey at the home of Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg.

Coming up Sunday, State Sen. David Carlucci along with members of the Jewish community and fellow lawmakers, will present Josef Gluck with the New York State Senate Liberty Medal.

About 100 people including Gluck were in the basement celebrating the seventh night of Hanukkah when a man entered, stabbed four people with a long knife or machete, then fled. A fifth person was injured in the melee. After moving people towards the back of the house away from the attacker, Gluck threw a coffee table at him. As the attacker left, Gluck followed him outside and took down his license plate.

Police picked up the van's track on a traffic cam through the license plate and description shortly afterward. The alleged attacker, Grafton Thomas of Greenwood Lake in Orange County, was arrested in New York City about an hour later.

“Thank you, Josef,” Lowey said at the event. “Without you, we would have never caught him as quickly as we did."

She said what New York is experiencing can only be called an epidemic. "In the past year, anti-Semitic crimes in New York City have increased by 21 percent. The attack here in our backyard was the 13th anti-Semitic crime in the New York City area just last week. We must seek long-term solutions to this age-old problem."

In addition to chairing the House Appropriations Committee, Lowey is the co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism. The task force is made up of 176 members of Congress who come from across the country, from all religions, and from both sides of the aisle. Since 2015, it has worked to ensure that Congress plays an integral role in condemning and spearheading initiatives to combat anti-Semitism, both domestically and abroad.

“The Town of Ramapo is honored to have Congresswoman Lowey join us in support of our community, to oppose anti-Semitism and to honor Joseph Gluck, our American hero, on his bravery,” Specht said.

It was right to pay tribute to Gluck, "who exemplified such heroism in the face of the horrific antisemitic attack in Monsey on December 28,” Harris said. “In the face of a veritable epidemic of antisemitic assaults, all people of goodwill must stand together to affirm our shoulder-to-shoulder solidarity and shared common destiny.”

Lowey noted that in the most recent federal spending package, $10 million is included to reestablish the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grants program at the Department of Homeland Security and an additional $7.5 million to fund the grants.

Carlucci commended Gluck for his brave actions that may have saved lives.

Thomas pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Sunday and was sent to Rockland County Jail. The judge set bail at $5 million.

SEE: Rockland Attack Latest In Region's Series of Hate Crimes