Brooklyn Stabbing Suspect Charged With Hate Crimes

A hate-fueled attacker who screamed Holocaust threats before stabbing a Jewish man in Brooklyn has been arrested and charged with hate crimes, bringing justice to a case that shocked the Crown Heights community. The December 17, 2025, assault near the global Chabad headquarters is the latest incident in a rising wave of antisemitic violence plaguing New York City.

Story Highlights

Jewish man stabbed on Kingston Avenue after suspect shouted alleged antisemitic threats and Holocaust threats
The attack occurred near the global Chabad headquarters in the historically Jewish Crown Heights neighborhood
The NYPD Hate Crimes Division is leading the investigation with increased patrols in the area
The incident is part of the rising antisemitic violence wave plaguing New York City since 2023

Vicious Attack Near Sacred Jewish Center

On December 17, 2025, Elias Rosner, a 35-year-old Jewish man, was reportedly stabbed on Kingston Avenue in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood after a verbal confrontation escalated into violent antisemitic hatred. The suspect shouted antisemitic statements, reportedly declaring it would “be alright if the Holocaust happened today,” before plunging a sharp object into Rosner’s chest. The attack occurred just blocks from Chabad headquarters, the global center of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, making this assault particularly chilling for the Jewish community.

Rosner sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at Kings County Hospital before being released the same day. Despite his wounds, the victim courageously pursued his attacker across the street before the suspect fled the scene. Rosner later spoke to media outlets, displaying remarkable resilience while recovering from this traumatic hate-motivated attack that has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Orthodox Jewish community.

A Jewish man in Crown Heights, Brooklyn was stabbed in the chest tonight in an unprovoked attack by this man, who shouted antisemitic statements.

If you have information about his identity or location, call 1-800-577-TIPS.

But don't worry – @bungarsargon says Americans are… pic.twitter.com/52ersmteXY

— ♀️Jennifer Gingrich ✡️ (@fem_mb) December 17, 2025

Crown Heights Haunted by Antisemitic History

This latest attack strikes at the heart of a neighborhood already scarred by antisemitic violence. Crown Heights was the site of the devastating 1991 riots, where racial tensions exploded into deadly violence that claimed the life of Yankel Rosenbaum, a Jewish student killed by a Black mob. The community has worked for decades to heal from those wounds, making this new hate crime particularly painful for residents who remember the terror of that earlier period.

The timing of this attack is especially concerning, given the dramatic spike in antisemitic incidents following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Jewish communities nationwide have faced increased threats and violence, prompting enhanced security measures around synagogues, schools, and community centers. The proximity to Chabad headquarters adds symbolic significance to this assault, as the location serves as a spiritual beacon for Jews worldwide.

A man was attacked in a suspected anti-Jewish hate crime in Brooklyn

Law Enforcement Responds to Hate Crime Crisis

The NYPD Hate Crimes Division immediately took control of the investigation, releasing suspect photographs and deploying additional patrols throughout Crown Heights. Mayor Eric Adams condemned the attack on social media, declaring that “evil, hateful, antisemitic violence must come to an end” and emphasizing the department’s commitment to tracking down the perpetrator. This swift response reflects growing awareness that antisemitic crimes require specialized attention and resources.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement has seized on this incident to promote their “Report It” mobile application, designed to document hate crimes in real-time. This technological approach to combating antisemitism represents a new front in the battle against religious hatred, allowing victims and witnesses to alert authorities and advocacy organizations immediately. Such tools have become increasingly vital as antisemitic incidents continue rising across major American cities, threatening the safety and security of Jewish Americans.

Watch the report: Brooklyn stabbing victim speaks out; police investigating attack as hate crime