Rabbi Assaulted in Queens Hate‑Crime Attack on Holocaust Remembrance Day

NYPD says a 32‑year‑old rabbi was punched in the chest and face on a Forest Hills street in Queens on International Holocaust Remembrance Day after an assailant made antisemitic remarks, in what elected officials called a targeted act of hate. Police arrested Eric Zafra‑Grosso, 32, of Queens at the scene and charged him with hate crime assault, hate crime aggravated harassment and assault causing injury; the victim was treated for minor injuries. In a joint statement, Rep. Grace Meng and several state and city lawmakers condemned the attack and noted it comes amid a documented rise in antisemitic incidents across New York City, where NYPD data show antisemitic crimes made up 62% of hate crimes in early 2025. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Mayor Zohran Mamdani both issued statements warning that antisemitism remains a present danger, emphasizing that no one should fear for their safety because of their religion. The timing on Holocaust Remembrance Day has intensified concern among Jewish leaders and civil‑rights advocates that street‑level harassment is increasingly turning into physical violence.