Rabbi Yosef Neumann passed away -- not from Wuhan Covid-19 but from hate

By Ethel C. Fenig

While the US (indeed most of the world, it seems) is in the twilight zone of a suspended form of life in lockdown, concentrating on all news Wuhan China Covid-19, other news is happening, other people are, sadly, dying from other causes besides the mysterious virus. Including murder. A hate crime murder.

One of the five victims of a viciousmachete stabbing attack by a black man against Jews celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hannukah in their home diedSunday evening. The Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council tweeted:

The stabbing attack took place Saturday night Dec 28, 2019 during a Hanukkah celebration in the Forshay area of Monsey, NY at the home of Rabbi Chaim Leibish Rottenberg. The incident left five people wounded. The funeral of Mr. Neumann OBM will be Monday.

And

We are sad to inform you that Yosef Neumann who was stabbed during the Hanukah attack in Monsey late Dec 2019, passed away this evening.

Neumann, whose parents miraculously survived the devastating Holocaust that slaughtered over 90% of European Jewry during World War ll, was a young child who emigrated with them and his siblings to America after they escaped Hungaryduring the 1956 revolution. Years later, married and the father of seven, he settled in Monsey, an outer suburb of New York City, that along with surrounding suburbs, is home to thousands of religious Jews who maintain the customs, practices, dress and language of their immediate ancestors.

In accordance with Jewish law Neumann was buried on Monday, soon after his passing. Not in accordance with Jewish law but in accordance with emergency decrees necessitated by the Wuhan, China Covid-19 crisis to save lives which is in accordance with Jewish law, the funeral and post funeral rituals were small without the presence of many family, friends and colleagues.

Also on Monday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) tweeted

The machete swinging murderer, Grafton Thomas, 37, who already faces state and federal charges related to the crime, has pleaded not guilty to both sets of charges.