A rabbi was attacked outside his home in New Jersey, with officials suggesting the incident may be linked to recent anti-Semitic violence, which the local mayor condemned as “disgraced violence.”
Rabbi Avraham Wine, who hails from Queens and is a father of two, was outside his Bergenfield residence around 2 PM on Sunday. During the incident, he managed to escape and confirmed the attack afterwards.
Mustafa Rabobo, the chief of the Bergenfield Police, hurried to assist residents after the incident. A suspect, Jeffrey VanGeldren, 40, from Ridgefield Park, has been arrested and charged with two counts of simple assault, according to reports.
While authorities have not confirmed whether the rabbi was specifically targeted, they have heightened security measures around local synagogues and homes belonging to Jewish families.
“This was an unacceptable act of violence that has no place in our town,” stated Bergenfield Mayor Irvin Amatrio. He voiced strong condemnation of the attack, asserting that any form of violence is intolerable and called for witnesses to come forward with information.
Representative Josh Gottimer (D-NJ) also spoke out against the incident, labeling it “a sneaky and hateful act.” He noted its timing before Sukkot, a holiday focused on community and gratitude, emphasizing that everyone in North Jersey should be able to worship safely.
In response to the attack, police patrols have been increased around Jewish neighborhoods. The police chief has described the attacks as appearing to be “isolated incidents.”
Rabbi Wine serves as an assistant rabbi at the Keter Torah Congregation in Teaneck, New Jersey, and is a faculty member at the Torah Academy in Bergen County. He previously worked as a rabbinic assistant in Long Island.
Born and raised in Queens, Wine studied at Yeshiva University. He and his wife, Shira, who is a certified physician assistant, have two children. Addressing the aftermath, Rabbi Wine expressed gratitude for the concern shown for his well-being while clarifying that he wasn’t hospitalized and that the attack occurred while he was preparing for the festival.
VanGeldren, who is also referred to as Jeffrey Gicinella, is currently held at the Bergen County Jail and has a lengthy criminal history, including various offenses over the past decade.
