A witness to the recent attack at Central Synagogue in New York City has sharply criticized The New York Times for its reporting, alleging the newspaper downplayed the severity and nature of the incident. Harry Zimmerman, who was present during the attack, stated on Facebook that the Times' description "pervert[ed] the reality that an extremely violent and frightening incident" occurred within the place of worship.
Zimmerman, 70, described the event as a violent disruption of Shabbat services by Larry Montes, who allegedly directed antisemitic slurs at congregants. According to Zimmerman, Montes, 46, suddenly began screaming and moved through the aisle with his arms swinging, striking one congregant, Michele Anenberg-Poma, with full force. He also noted that Montes intentionally knocked over candlesticks, which he compared to acts of desecration during Kristallnacht.
"I saw what happened Friday night," Zimmerman wrote, expressing his inability to reconcile his direct experience with the Times' account. He found the newspaper's use of terms such as "agitated" and "interrupting" to be less immediate and specific than the reality of the "unprovoked attack" he witnessed.
Montes has been charged by the Manhattan district attorney's office with two counts of assault as a hate crime, two counts of aggravated harassment, and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime. The New York Post reported that Montes also allegedly referred to Jews as "swine" and "f
K the Jews."
Zimmerman, who identified himself as a digital creator, suggested that the Times' framing of the event, particularly its description of Montes as "agitated" and the incident as "interrupting" worshippers and "rattling New Yorkers," diluted the true story and subtext of what he characterized as an antisemitic attack. He asserted that precise language and responsible framing are crucial in news reporting, especially when covering violence motivated by hate.
The witness's own account, which he posted on Facebook and noted was initially deleted by the site, aimed to offer a counterpoint to the Times' reporting. He stated that while he had previously heard concerns about the Times' coverage of Jewish community issues, his experience on Friday night provided firsthand evidence.
Central Synagogue is located on Lexington Avenue and East 55th Street. The attack on Anenberg-Poma resulted in a busted lip and a bloody gash on her forearm. Zimmerman expressed frustration that the Times' reporting did not fully capture the intentionality and severity of Montes' actions, drawing a parallel to historical acts of violence against Jewish places of worship.
Support for Zimmerman's critique was expressed on his Facebook page, with some users thanking him for highlighting what they described as shoddy journalism by the New York Times. The Post has reached out to the Times for comment.