Jewish New Yorkers blindsided by Iran’s attack on Israel: ‘I’m scared for my family’
Jewish New Yorkers were shocked and outraged by Iran’s missile attack on Israel Saturday, leaving many fearing for their loved ones trapped in the besieged Jewish State.
“Of course, I’m scared for my family and their well-being,” Chaim Goldstein told The Post as he left Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Heights.
The Post broke the news of the invasion to dozens of worshippers who had not heard what happened because of Sabbath restrictions.
One man sprinted across the busy Eastern Parkway upon hearing the news so he could check on his family in Israel.
A police presence was stationed outside the synagogue as a precaution.
“I just pray that Hashem should take care of the Jewish people and that the hostages should be allowed to return to their home,” Rabbi David Sholom Pape, 79, told The Post, describing Iran’s attack as a “suicide mission.”
““This is obviously something that could involve the whole world. If they’re stupid enough to do that, they’d commit suicide. They promised they’d do such and such so they had to do something or they’re just straw men. It may just be for show.”
Despite having no knowledge of the escalation, several were unsurprised upon learning that Iran deployed hundreds of suicide drones, ballistic missiles and rockets at the Jewish state in a middle-of-the-night attack.
The strike with some 200 drones marks Iran’s first-ever direct attack on Israel and comes after the Jewish state killed top Iranian generals in a strike on Lebanon on April 1.
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“I’m not surprised but it’s getting serious,” 26-year-old Samson said, noting that his entire family lives in Israel.
“We call every day to find out how they’re doing. We pray every day for our brothers and sisters in their holy land.”
Samson, who declined to provide his last name, chastised the Iranians in Tehran who were seen in photographs celebrating the destruction.
“It’s horrible,” he said. “Celebrating genocide is horrible.”
“We don’t dance around when there are missiles dropping everywhere. War is terrible. War is cruel. We want the war to stop. Anyone dancing anywhere for missiles dropping is cruel.”
Moshe Frank, 38, agreed — claiming that the Iranian people have been “brainwashed to hate Israel.”
“I’m not sure what they’re celebrating about,” the Brooklynite said. “I hope there’s no more escalation.”
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Goldstein, 18, moved to Crown Heights from Israel for school in September — just one month before Hamas launched its Oct. 7 surprise attack that kickstarted the Middle Eastern war.
With his mother’s family still living in Israel, Goldstein pushed for peace and for the conflict over the Jewish State to end.
“I think they also believe it should stop, the missiles and the war,” he said of his family. “We should live in peace together, just like the Arabs and Jews lived in peace,” he said.
In spite of the destruction, Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum, 49, stressed that God would save the people of Israel — just as he had when Iraq initiated a missile campaign against Israel in 1991.
“The same God who protected us then is still around. He didn’t go anywhere and he will protect us,” Weinbaum said.
The rabbi’s 18-year-old daughter had coincidentally traveled from Israel to Crown Heights to celebrate Passover with her father.
Weinbaum appeared unafraid about the prospect of her return, stating that he feels “like she’s more protected in Israel than she is here.”
Mayor Eric Adams emphasized that New York City “unequivocally stands with the State of Israel” as it faces fresh attacks from Iran.
“As mayor of the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, the significance of this attack for Jewish New Yorkers — many of whom have family in Israel right now — is not lost on me, especially less than 10 days before Passover begins,” Hizzoner said in a statement.
“While there is no direct or imminent threat to New York City at this time, we have directed the NYPD to deploy additional resources to Jewish communities and houses of worship citywide out of abundance of caution to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to feel safe.”
Jewish leaders across New York took to social media to condemn the offense Saturday, including Sen. Chuck Schumer.
“As Israel is under attack from Iran, we stand with Israel and its people, and the United States will do everything we can to support Israel’s defense against Iran,” Schumer said on X.
Mark Treyger, south Brooklyn’s former Democratic city councilmember and Jewish caucus member, said the attack on the Jewish state was a “sobering reminder” of Israel’s suffering since the outbreak of the war on Oct. 7.
“Through proxies, the Iranian unelected, autocratic, regime attacks Israeli civilian populations (Christians, Jews, and Muslims) almost every single day, including contributing to the October 7th massacre via their support for Hamas,” he tweeted.
“Tonight, the autocratic regime launched an unprecedented and significant direct attack on a U.S. ally and the only democracy in the region. Very thankful for the United States’ armed forces support for our ally in this turning point moment in world history.”
