# A Man Broke Up a Shabbat Service at Central Synagogue and Was Charged With a Hate Crime

> Larry Montes, 46, struck a congregant, damaged property and headbutted a member of the security team as he was removed. An officer on duty at the building arrested him.

- Source: Israel Today
- Canonical URL: https://israeltoday.news/article/central-synagogue-shabbat-attack-nypd
- Author: Israel Today Staff
- Section: Jewish World
- Published: 2026-08-15T14:20:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-15T14:20:00.000Z
- Tags: United States, Antisemitism, Diaspora

---

A man disrupted Friday night services at Central Synagogue in Manhattan, struck a congregant, damaged property, and spat at and headbutted a member of the security team while being escorted out. Nobody was seriously hurt. A police officer working security at the building took him into custody.

Larry Montes, 46, of the Bronx, faces two counts of assault as a hate crime, one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, and further charges. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said a place of worship should never be a crime scene. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the act despicable and said his administration would keep Jewish New Yorkers safe.

The context in the city is measurable. At least 205 anti Jewish hate crimes have been recorded in New York this year, and last month Jews were the target of 70 percent of the city's hate crimes while making up roughly a tenth of its population. A stabbing on the Upper West Side occurred late last month.

The mayor's statement lands in an argument already running. Rabbis met Mamdani days ago to tell him his rhetoric on Israel is doing harm to Jewish New Yorkers. He answered this attack quickly and without qualification, and the community he addressed is the one that raised the concern.

---

Originally published by Israel Today. Free to cite with attribution and a link to https://israeltoday.news/article/central-synagogue-shabbat-attack-nypd.