Brooklyn TERROR—Man Stabbed With Antisemitic Threats

Police activity on a city street with emergency vehicles.

A Jewish man was viciously stabbed in broad daylight near Brooklyn’s Chabad headquarters on the third night of Hanukkah while his attacker spewed vile antisemitic slurs, exposing the terrifying reality facing religious communities under failed progressive policies that allowed hate crimes to surge unchecked.

Story Snapshot

Armani Charles, 23, charged with hate crimes after stabbing 35-year-old Elias Rosner near Crown Heights Jewish Center while shouting antisemitic slurs including Holocaust references
Attack occurred December 16, 2025, during Hanukkah near Chabad Lubavitch global headquarters, following another antisemitic subway assault the previous day
Incident reflects alarming surge in NYC antisemitic violence post-October 2023, exposing failures in protecting religious liberty and community safety
Jewish community leaders dispute NYPD classifications of related attacks, pressing authorities to recognize clear patterns of bias-motivated violence

Violent Attack During Sacred Holiday

Armani Charles approached Elias Rosner on Kingston Avenue near Lincoln Place in Crown Heights around 4:10 PM on December 16, 2025, initiating a verbal confrontation laced with explicit antisemitic remarks. Charles shouted “F*** these Jews” and made references to the Holocaust before walking away from the initial encounter. When Rosner followed Charles, the suspect turned and stabbed the victim in the chest with a sharp object, then fled toward Sterling Place and Albany Avenue. Rosner received treatment at Kings County Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and was released the same day.

Historic Jewish Neighborhood Under Siege

Crown Heights hosts one of America’s largest Orthodox Jewish communities and serves as global headquarters for Chabad Lubavitch, making it a significant target for antisemitic violence. The neighborhood carries deep scars from the 1991 riots, where racial tensions exploded into deadly attacks on Jewish residents, creating lasting security concerns that remain relevant today. This latest stabbing occurred just blocks from the Chabad headquarters during Hanukkah, a sacred Jewish holiday, amplifying fears within a community already traumatized by historical violence. The timing and location demonstrate brazen disregard for religious freedom and public safety in areas where Americans should worship without fear.

Pattern of Escalating Antisemitic Violence

The Crown Heights stabbing followed another antisemitic assault on December 15, 2025, when attackers targeted Orthodox Jews on a subway train bound for Crown Heights, using slurs like “f*** the Jews.” Rabbi Yaacov Behrman and other Jewish community leaders disputed the NYPD’s initial classification of the subway incident as simple assault rather than a bias crime, pointing to video and audio evidence clearly documenting antisemitic motivation. Both attacks occurred during Hanukkah, reflecting a disturbing pattern of emboldened hatred targeting Jewish Americans during religious observances. NYC experienced a documented spike in antisemitic incidents following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, revealing how international conflicts and inadequate local enforcement embolden domestic hate.

Community Demands Accountability

Mayor Eric Adams condemned the stabbing as “evil, hateful, antisemitic violence” and emphasized that the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force was investigating, though Adams was an outgoing mayor at the time with limited remaining influence. The NYPD increased patrols in Crown Heights and released suspect images and video footage before Charles was ultimately charged with attempted assault, aggravated harassment, and menacing as hate crimes. Jewish community leaders continue pressing authorities to recognize bias motivations in related incidents, expressing frustration with inconsistent classifications that undermine hate crime enforcement. This inconsistency reflects broader problems with progressive criminal justice policies that often downplay religious targeting and fail to protect constitutional rights to worship freely.

Threat to Religious Liberty and Public Safety

The stabbing exposes fundamental failures in protecting First Amendment religious freedom, a cornerstone value that conservatives have long defended against erosion by progressive policies prioritizing social experimentation over public safety. Jewish organizations like the Combat Antisemitism Movement are expanding real-time reporting tools to document escalating violence, recognizing that official responses have proven insufficient. The surge in antisemitic attacks demonstrates consequences of soft-on-crime approaches championed by leftist district attorneys and city councils across America’s urban centers. Traditional families and faith communities deserve security to practice their beliefs without violent intimidation, yet progressive governance consistently undermines law enforcement effectiveness through budget cuts and restrictive policies that embolden criminals and extremists targeting vulnerable populations.