ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY (VINnews) – A man wounded in the Hanukkah stabbings north of New York City may have permanent brain damage and be partially paralyzed for the rest of his life, his family said.
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The Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council released a statement from the family of Josef Neumann, 71, and a graphic photograph Wednesday showing severe head injuries he received Saturday at a rabbi’s home in Monsey, New York.
Four other people were injured in the attack, which federal prosecutors say was a hate crime.
The photograph shows an intubated Neumann with a swollen and disfigured face lying in a hospital bed. A gash to his head appears to have been stitched up.
Neumann’s family released the photograph for the world and “the Jewish community to understand the gravity of hate,” Yossi Gestetner, the council’s co-founder, said in an interview. Neumann has seven children.
“These things are vividly and viciously disturbing and have long-term consequences,” Gestetner said.
The 18-inch machete used in the attack penetrated Neumann’s skull, the statement said, adding that Neumann’s “right arm has been shattered.”
“Our father’s status is so dire that no surgery has yet been performed on the right arm,” the statement said. “Doctors are not optimistic about his chances to regain consciousness, and if our father does miraculously recover partially, doctors expect that he will have permanent damage to he brain, leaving him partially paralyzed and speech-impaired for the rest of his life.”
The statement also called on Jewish people around the world to share their own experiences with anti-Semitism on social media using the hashtag #MeJew.
“We shall not let this terrible hate-driven attack be forgotten,” the statement said, “and let us all work to eradicate all sorts of hate.”
Federal prosecutors have charged Grafton Thomas, 37, with five federal counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by attempting to kill with a dangerous weapon. He also has pleaded not guilty to five state counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary.
Authorities have said Thomas had handwritten journals containing anti-Semitic references and had recently used his phone to look up information on Hitler and the location of synagogues.
Thomas’ family has said he was raised in a tolerant home and had a history of mental illness.
The Hanukkah attack came amid a string of violence that has alarmed Jews in the region.
Former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind said he recently spoke with an Orthodox Jewish man in New York who told him he had taken off his yarmulke out of fear.
“Part of what we’re trying to get across to people is that these attacks are not just statistics,” said Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism. “These people have to live with this the rest of their life.”
This is the visual state of Josef Neumann who has been stabbed at the Hanukkah celebration Saturday night in the Forshay area of #Monsey. (Press/media is authorized to publish/post this.) #MeJew pic.twitter.com/1e1acNG2O9
— OJPAC (@OJPAC) January 1, 2020
STATEMENT BY THE FAMILY OF JOSEF NEUMANN with details about their beloved father following the #Monsey stabbing attack, and with a call to Jews around the world to share their experiences with anti-Semitism and adding the tag #MeJew.https://t.co/7B5p5qfNE4 pic.twitter.com/nr4y3lTLwO
— OJPAC (@OJPAC) January 1, 2020
This is how Michael Sussman should look like. Give a machete to “his gentle loving client” and lock them in a room for a few minutes
did the family agree to have this picture published?
Just mention that he needs RACHMEI SHOMAYIM MERIBIM.
Uh Hello VIN, You can see the picture before the warning!
I think the photo is totally inappropriate and sickly gratuitous. The victim needs privacy and prayer and certainly did not give his consent. In poor taste! What’s with VIN and some weird pics and sensationalist stories? We know the poor man was seriously injured. Maybe you want to show an even less dignified pic next time? Come on…
Wth ? Would anyone here personally want a picture of himself to circle around if he’s god forbid in same situation as this guy ? We getting lower and lower a little privacy respect for other people who look so bad it’s so humiliating . who wants to wake up from a coma and want to find out your picture was used strictly for publicity. tell me 1 thing that u can gain by showing how he looks ? Someone who cares will care with or without this picture.
Vulgar and disgusting exploitation of the sweet and humble R’ Yosef Neumann by the publicity hound quoted in the article.
Anyone who knows R’ Yosef would know how horrified he would be about having his privacy violated like this and by having this picture posted to the internet. He is the last person in the world who would want to be the center of attention.
One can only imagine what kind of fast-talking was used to talk someone from the Neumann family into giving permission, doubtless because they did not realize it was ALL about the guy behind the campaign, not their own father, nor klal yisroel.
Vulgar, disgusting, and appalling exploitation.
And shame on VIN for going along with this!
Horrific….AS horrible as it looks…it is needed…
People are too jaded today when they hear of violent attacks.
The family obviously agreed to having this photo released.
I will not pass judgement as to their judgement.
I am deeply saddened.
What disrespect to this individual who cant speak for himself!!! Please out of respect for the victim and family, take off the picture and just post his name for our Tafilos…He needs them!!
OJPAC has pressured the family to be their spokesman against others and ran with their agenda and did a despicable act of releasing this photo.
Yossi G made sure to convince the family that this is the right approach and they fell for it and Yossi is having a blast.
You will not be forgotten for this cruel act.
The family needs to be made aware of the senseless decision they made only to please a friend .
damage is done .
may he have a speedy recovery and never know what was done to his reputation.
No one cares. All the machers from all the organizations are looking to cash on the crimes. Now they can fill their pockets with money and put out fake security booths and make tens of millions. They are hoping more Jews get hurt so they can lick the politicians for funding.
Based on what I read, the family consent posting this picture with a purpose, two fold. One, that our elected officials shall see what hate can do and get their acts together and work towards preventing it from happening again to anyone. Two, for us to understand the severity of what happened. Although I have the trust of our Rabunim, Gedoile Yisrol and klal activists, and despite living in the vicinity of Monsey I couldn’t fathom the severity. Unfortunately by seeing it, I like many others are now grasping the severity of this heinous crime.
A picture speaks (volume) more than a thousand words.
Let’s ALL daven for this nefesh of klal yisrol, for his children, his family and for us and our children.
May Hashem who is the real Shoimer Yisrol prevent this and anything alike to happen to anyone one else.
Hashem is the one Asher Heiny Atzas Goyim and bring Meshach in our days Aumein.
Ps. Be respectful and mindful of someone else’s way of thinking. Every person is entitled of their own way of thinking and doing what’s right, as long he means the good for all of us. Give that other person the benefit of the doubt and dont so easily judge someone else negatively.
Respectfully yours
No reason to post such a picture and it’s the wrong message to boot. We don’t need to be reminded of the effect of hate. Unfortunately after 2000 yrs in galus we know all too well. The correct message is teshuvah. A terrible misguided picture and article by VIN all the way around I don’t care who’s idea it was VIN needs to know better
What this horrible picture shows the world is that the Monsey Chanukah attack was no “stabbing,” as news reports have chosen to portray it.
The Monsey attack was a vicious, premeditaed machete-hacking that split a man’s skull and shattered his arm.
(Google ‘stock images of machete’ and click on shutterstock.com to see one in the hand of a man)
They should show this picture to Kirsten Gillibrand and Adam Schiff. Show them what their supporters do to innocent people.
Please remove this picture immediately. This is pure geneivas das. You can’t do this without permission of the patient which you obviously can’t get.
May this loving father & grandfather have a complete and total refuah & may HaKodesh B”H comfort them. The only post that readers should being making is that they are saying Tehilim Mr. Neumans total & speedy recovery.Forget the rhetoric & nasty accusations. Expend all your efforts in Tefilah to help him. And while the law grants this piece of human waste a defense no self respecting Yid should represent him. Mr. Sussman you are no better than your client, and beware HaShem will repay you for representing this piece of drek You will not have any good fortune in the future for yourself, your children & your grandchildren. There is still time to seek forgiveness from your creator.
After watching a recent TV report, I believe the picture was the right move. They only mentioned 5 people injured as if these were some paper cuts, and ignored R’ Yehosof’s critical situation.
As they say in Yiddish, “az s’tut vei shreit men” and since a picture speaks louder than words, this is the best way to cry out in today’s graphic world.
Does anyone know the status of the November Monsey victim? And is this “Tinuf” Grafton a possible suspect?
eino dome shmiya lereiya ! most are not on the madrega to really FEEL the pain even w a pic, much less without one
what davar gashmi did you not do since the attack bacause ” you JUST COULDNT” with such tzoros happening…