"Jews should not live in fear": the promise of the New York police commissioner

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch spoke at the Central Synagogue in Manhattan, where she spent her childhood, and promised congregants that Jewish institutions and families will not be left without police protection amid a rise in antisemitism. She cited statistics: Jews make up 10% of the city's population but account for half of hate crime victims; since the beginning of the year, such crimes have increased by 8.5%, and in July by 53.3% compared to July 2025.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch spoke at the Central Synagogue in Manhattan, where she spent her childhood, prayed, and was married, a week after an antisemitic attack. She promised congregants that the city's Jewish institutions and families would not be forced to defend themselves against a wave of antisemitism. Tisch emphasized that this promise is backed by 35,000 police officers, the city's counter-terrorism system, and a special hate crimes task force. The event took place exactly one week after an incident involving 46-year-old Larry Montes from the Bronx, who burst into the synagogue during evening Sabbath prayers. According to charges, he shouted antisemitic and racist slogans, attacked a 63-year-old congregant and a 65-year-old security guard, and damaged property. He faces state and federal hate crime charges in two episodes. Tisch cited statistics: Jews make up about 10% of New York's population, yet account for roughly half of confirmed hate crime victims in the city. Since the beginning of the year, such crimes have increased by 8.5% compared to the same period last year, and in July by 53.3% compared to July 2025. She warned that violence can breed more violence and explained that law enforcement takes action before hatred escalates into violence.