Jewish community calls for end of environment where 'hate begets more hate' in wake of stabbings

David Weisberg, CEO of the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County, says he was stunned by the stabbings at a Hanukkah party in Monsey, New York.

News 12 Staff

Dec 30, 2019, 10:13 PM

Updated 1,823 days ago

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Yet another anti-Semitic attack just miles away from Connecticut has raised questions of what can be done to prevent further violence.
David Weisberg, CEO of the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County, says he was stunned by the stabbings at a Hanukkah party in Monsey, New York.
"What happened over the weekend was absolutely tragic and made even more so because this is part of a scorge of anti-Semitic incidents that have happened throughout the Hanukkah season and beyond," says Weisberg.
Weisberg says as people of the Jewish faith celebrated the last day of Hanukkah, there seemed to be more and more of these anti-Semitic crimes.
"Hate begets more hate, and for whatever reason we're in an environment now where these kind of incidents seem to be encouraged by some," says Weisberg.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal wants to take action to prevent something like this from happening again.
"We need stronger laws, tougher penalties, more stringent prosecution against hate crimes," says Blumenthal.
Weisberg says he worries about copy cats, and says the Jewish community remains vigilant in situations like this.
"Our response to bad acts is to do good acts and to stand together," he says.