A Bergenfield rabbi was assaulted in a random attack outside his home on the eve of Sukkot. Police arrested the suspect and have increased patrols around synagogues to reassure the local Jewish community.
A rabbi in New Jersey was assaulted in what police say was a random attack outside his home, just hours before the start of a major Jewish holiday. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in Bergenfield, about 15 minutes from Jersey City. The victim, Rabbi Avraham Wein, serves as the assistant rabbi at Congregation Keter Torah. Police say the assault happened around 2 p.m., when a man got out of his car and attacked the rabbi without provocation.
The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Jeffrey Zicchinella, was quickly arrested and charged with two counts of simple assault. A nearby resident who came to Rabbi Wein’s aid was also injured in the altercation. Both the rabbi and the resident sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene. Authorities later confirmed that the incident was not a hate crime, describing it instead as an isolated act of random violence. “No words were exchanged prior to the assault, and there is no indication that this attack was motivated by race, religion, or ethnicity,” Bergenfield Police Chief Mustafa Rabboh said in a statement.
The attack took place on the eve of Sukkot, one of Judaism’s most joyful holidays, and comes amid a global rise in antisemitic violence. Just days earlier, two Jewish worshippers were killed and three others injured in an attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, England. While police in New Jersey say the two incidents are unrelated, the timing has heightened concerns within local Jewish communities.
In response, Bergenfield police have increased patrols around synagogues and Jewish homes to ensure safety. Mayor Arvin Amatorio called the assault “unacceptable” and praised residents and officers for their quick action, emphasizing the community’s unity and resilience in the face of violence.
