NYC synagogue attack witness blasts New York Times – Business News
An outraged witness ripped the New York Times for downplaying Friday evening’s attack on Central Synagogue, “perverting the reality that an extremely violent and frightening incident” came about inside a place of worship, and “diluting the true story and subtext.”
Harry Zimmerman fired off a prolonged Facebook screed condemning the Gray Lady’s reporting of the violent attack on the high-profile synagogue that left one congregant with grotesque wounds and a security guard assaulted.
“I saw what happened Friday night,” wrote Zimmerman, 70, who was sitting within the sixth row of the “packed” synagogue on Lexington Avenue and East fifty fifth Street.
Larry Montes was taken into custody after his alleged Friday rampage inside Central Synagogue. Central Synagogue
“I cannot emotionally consolidate … the difference between what I witnessed from a few feet away and how The New York Times decided to describe the event,” the shaken witness continued, noting that the hateful perp – Larry Montes, who reportedly seethed, “f–k the Jews” – was charged with a hate crime.
The Times article, which described the violent, unhinged attack as “interrupt[ing]” worshippers and “rattl[ing] New Yorkers,” deceptively downplayed the precise occasion, in accordance with Zimmerman.
“I have heard for years that the Times is unfairly critical and biased in its coverage of Israel and issues affecting the Jewish community. People can debate that if they like. What was different this time was that I did not need anyone else’s interpretation. I was there. I saw it happen,” he wrote.
The hateful attacker “violently disrupted” the Shabbat companies attended by a whole bunch of worshipers, in accordance with Zimmerman, who discovered it “difficult to reconcile” the Times description of the unprovoked attack with the fact he noticed proper earlier than him.
Central Synagogue is seen in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post
Zimmerman laced into the Times for whitewashing the actions of Montes, 46, whom the paper described as “agitated” and “struggled” as he “hit” 63-year-old Michele Anenbeg-Poma, who was seen with a busted lip and a bloody gash on her proper forearm.
“What I witnessed was very different,” wrote Zimmerman, who described a deranged Montes as “suddenly screaming at the top of his lungs,” transferring by the aisle “with his arms swinging, while congregants sat only inches away.”
Zimmerman stated he was “only feet away” and insisted “this did not occur as part of a struggle,” including that the attack occurred earlier than security restrained the suspect. Montes zeroed in on Anenberg-Poma, who was positioned close to the aisle, in accordance with Zimmerman, “and struck her in the face fist closed full force. She flew backward immediately.”
The Times’ reporting that Montes “knocked over a set of candlesticks” recommended collateral harm during the melee and “does not fully capture what took place,” in accordance with Zimmerman.
Michele Anenberg-Poma was injured in an attack on Central Synagogue in Manhattan on Friday evening. Michele Anenberg-Poma / Instagram
“I saw him intentionally grab and destroy them, much in the way Germans and the [Poles] went into synagogues in [1938] and destroy[ed] Torahs,” fumed Zimmerman.
He asserted that the Times “would describe” the World War II-era desecration “as destroying history books” – a reference to the paper’s infamous downplaying of pre-Holocaust Europe.
The congregant elaborated on his frustration with the deceptive reporting.
“Where I experienced a violent disruption inside a packed sanctuary during Shabbat services, the phrasing in the article — particularly words like ‘agitated’ and ‘temple’s interior’ — feels less immediate and less specific to the setting and severity of what unfolded,” the congregant stated.
“And certainly dilutes the true story and subtext.”
Zimmerman, a digital creator, added that “responsible language and media framing are what news reporting is supposed to be doing.”
The Times article, which described the violent, unhinged attack as “interrupt[ing]” worshippers and “rattl[ing] New Yorkers,” deceptively downplayed the precise occasion, in accordance with Zimmerman. nytimes.com
Pro-Israel demonstrators protest a New York Times op-ed in entrance of the New York Times headquarters in New York City on Jan. 19. Michael Nagle for NY Post
He penned his own account on Facebook – which he famous the location initially deleted – to juxtapose with the Times piece, urging readers to “decide for themselves.”
“For years I have heard concerns raised about how The New York Times frames stories involving the Jewish community. Until Friday night, my perspective on that debate was necessarily secondhand,” wrote Zimmerman. “But not anymore.”
The affect that journalists wield carries “responsibility,” Zimmerman asserted, admonishing the Times for its watered-down account.
Larry Montes reportedly seethed “F–k the Jews” during his tirade within the synagogue. Facebook/Larry Montes
“When reporting on violence in a religious space – particularly violence that may be motivated by hate – precision and clarity in language are especially important.”
Expressions of help poured in on Zimmerman’s Facebook web page on Monday, with one post thanking the witness “for pointing out the shoddy journalism of the New York Times.”
The Manhattan district lawyer’s workplace charged Montes – who reportedly later referred to as Jews “swine” – with two counts of assault as a hate crime, two counts of aggravated harassment and one rely of felony mischief as a hate crime.
The Post has sought remark from the Times.
