American Jewish Orgs Condemn ‘Stabbing In All Its Forms’

“As a nation we must join in decrying stabbing, whether occur via fish fork, hunting knife, Swiss Army knife, crochet hook, or even scalpel.”

New York, December 30 – Prominent Jewish groups all over the United States reacted over the weekend to the Saturday night stabbing attack at a Monsey, NY Rabbi’s home, by issuing a sweeping denunciation of stabbing in all its forms. The attack left five people injured.

Statements by the Anti-Defamation League, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the Union for Reform Judaism, the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, and other high-profile Jewish organizations all condemned stabbing, calling the phenomenon “a violent act that undermines the security and civility of a functioning society” and “a wake-up call to our communities to address the issue.”

The attack at a Hanukkah event involved a machete, but the Jewish groups took pains to make clear they oppose the use of sharp objects of other kinds, as well. “It would be irresponsible to suggest we harbor more tolerance for other implements or varieties of stabbing,” a spokesman for J-Street stated. “Therefore our statement did not single out the machete as an important element in the message. We would oppose this kind of behavior whether it involved a sword, dagger, butcher knife, knitting needle, carving knife, fireplace poker, pitchfork, or flatware of any sort. I’m sure our counterparts across the spectrum of American Jewish organizations share the sentiment.”

Condemnation for stabbing in all its forms came from several progressive organizations outside the Jewish umbrella. “This cannot pass without opprobrium for stabbing of any kind,” read a statement by the Democratic Socialists of America. “As an organization and as a nation we must join in decrying stabbing, whether occur via fish fork, hunting knife, Swiss Army knife, crochet hook, or even scalpel.”

Even groups outside the United States felt compelled to respond to the incident. “Our heart, our thoughts, and our prayers are with victims of stabbings everywhere,” declared Diane Abbot of the UK Labour Party.

All the groups dismissed criticism of some right-wing pundits and groups that such generalized condemnations hurt more than they help. “Some would prefer to use this tragedy as an opportunity to sow division,” lamented ADL President Jonathan Greenblatt. “Our organization and allies agree that the best way to move forward is to condemn as many kinds of stabbing as possible, lest anyone get the wrong impression that we only care about certain kinds of impalement attacks. It would be wrong to suggest that we only care when the torso is targeted, for example, but can tolerate stabbing the neck or leg. Those who wish to sow division by focusing on only one kind of stabbing, when so many people suffer from so many different types, fail to understand this.”

Please support our work through Patreon.