Antisemitism and anti-Asian violence have both been growing problems across the United States, and a disturbing attack in New York City this week has brought both issues into sharp focus. Two men were stabbed Thursday in what police are investigating as a possible hate crime, raising serious questions about the safety of Jewish and Asian communities and the state of law and order in one of America’s largest cities.

Do you want state prayer alerts?

View Comments (0)

The attack happened on Central Park West in Manhattan, just steps from a synagogue. Reports that the attacker may have shouted a religious phrase before striking one of the victims have made an already troubling situation even more alarming.

From Breitbart:

According to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the matter, the attacker walked up to the first man, Chok Sung, 57, on West 84th and Central Park West and stabbed him in the back. He then went to West 86th Street, the official said, where he approached another man, Yezhak Grunhaus, 50, and stabbed him once in the chest.

Police officers responding to a 911 call about an assault in the area arrived on West 84th Street to find Mr. Sung conscious, but with a wound on his torso. Officers then discovered Mr. Grunhaus two blocks north. Both men were taken by emergency medical workers to Mount Sinai’s Morningside location, where they are expected to survive, the police said.

Police arrested a person of interest on Thursday. The identity of the assailant has not yet been released. According to the New York Post, police are “investigating claims that the suspect said ‘Allah Akbar,’ meaning ‘God is the greatest’ in Arabic, before one of the attacks.”

This attack is happening at a time when antisemitism in New York City is already at alarming levels. As JNS reported last month, anti-Jewish hate crimes jumped 70.8% in May compared to the same month in 2025, and when looked at over a longer period, the increase was more than 150%. Yezhak Grunhaus, the Jewish victim, had just left the synagogue at Central Park West and West 86th Street and was wearing a yarmulke when he was attacked. A witness who had been speaking with him inside the Jewish Center just minutes before said that two bystanders heard the suspect shout “Allahu Akbar” before the stabbing. It is important to note that the attacker’s motive has not been officially confirmed, and the investigation is still ongoing.

The political climate in New York City has also raised concerns. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office earlier this year, sparked controversy when he reversed several executive orders that had been in place to protect Jewish and Israeli residents. During his first month in office, the city recorded a 182% increase in antisemitic hate crimes. Since then, city officials have changed the way hate crime statistics are reported twice, something critics say is making it harder to see how serious the problem really is.

The Bible calls believers to stand up for the vulnerable and to care about justice, and this attack is a painful reminder of why that matters. A man was apparently targeted simply because he was visibly Jewish and had just left his synagogue. That is an attack on religious liberty and on the dignity of every person made in God’s image. Christians should be among those calling loudest for the protection of Jewish communities, not only because of a shared biblical heritage, but because justice and the protection of innocent people are at the heart of what God calls us to care about.

How are you praying for the safety of Jewish and Asian communities and for justice in New York City? Share your prayers and scriptures in the comments below.