New York’s Rising Tensions Push a Jewish Resident to Florida

Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus: From Upper West Side to Surfside After a Stabbing

Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, 50, was attacked outside a synagogue on Thursday near Amsterdam Avenue and West 86th Street. The assailant shouted “Allahu Akbar” while wielding a screwdriver, leaving Grunhaus with a chest wound that he survived.

After the incident, Grunhaus left New York permanently. He moved to Surfside, near Miami, following a brief return to the city to clear out his apartment. Friends say he was disillusioned with how municipal officials addressed antisemitic threats.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced criticism for his stance on Israel, and some residents feel the mayor’s policies have failed to protect them from hate crimes. Grunhaus, a vocal supporter of Israel, stated that he could not stay in the city because of these concerns.

Neighbors recall Grunhaus as devout and proud of his Jewish identity, noting that he left because he felt unsafe. He condemned the city’s response to violence as insufficient.

The incident underscores growing tensions in New York and highlights why some residents are relocating to safer areas, such as Florida. The city must address these safety concerns if it wishes to retain its residents.