NYPD Commissioner pledges protection for Jews at Central Synagogue

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch pledged a “deeply personal” commitment to protecting the Jewish community during a speech at Central Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan. The address followed a recent attack during Shabbat services where a man disrupted the service by shouting obscenities, punching a congregant, and physically assaulting a Black security guard with racial slurs.

The suspect, Larry Montes, was arrested at the scene and faces hate crime charges in both federal and state courts. Tisch noted that while Jews comprise approximately 10% of New York City's population, they have been the target of roughly half of the city's confirmed hate crimes for several years.

The event included remarks from an interfaith group of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Reverend Adriene Thorne, who spoke on community solidarity and mutual support.