{"id":322513,"date":"2026-08-16T13:10:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T13:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/322513\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T13:10:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T13:10:08","slug":"nyc-synagogue-attack-victim-punches-back-at-unhinged-assailant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/322513\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC synagogue attack victim punches back at unhinged assailant"},"content":{"rendered":"

The victim of Friday night\u2019s attack on a prominent Big Apple synagogue<\/a> is defiantly punching back against her unhinged attacker.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am the woman who was assaulted last night at Central Synagogue.\u00a0 You will not punch out our Jewish light. You will not stand and cause harm to our eternal light,\u201d wrote a weary-looking Michele Anenberg-Poma<\/a> on Instagram Saturday, along with a photo of herself revealing a bloody busted lip and an open gash on her right forearm.<\/p>\n

Michele Anenberg-Poma was injured in an attack on Central Synagogue in Manhattan on Friday night. Michele Anenberg-Poma \/ Instagram<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to sing our prayers of peace, love, and joy while protecting the voices that lead us each week,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur beloved Central Synagogue stands for all \u2014 stands so tall, a light, a light truly for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 63-year-old congregant was allegedly slugged by Larry Montes, 46, who police sources said seethed<\/a> \u201cF\u2013k the Jews\u201d during the shocking attack on the high profile Upper East Side synagogue.<\/p>\n

Harrowing livestream footage of the Friday night Shabbat service shared to social media showed the creep in a rage, shouting erratically at the front of the synagogue, just after prayers started at 6 p.m..<\/p>\n

Central Synagogue is seen on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in New York. AP Photo\/Kena Betancur<\/p>\n

He allegedly headbutted and spat on a 65-year-old security guard who tried to intervene, and broke two religious candles valued at $20,000.<\/p>\n

The Bronx man was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime. He was ordered held on $10,000 bail <\/a>at his arraignment late Saturday.<\/p>\n

Friends described Anenberg-Poma as having \u201cthe biggest heart<\/a>,\u201d someone who\u2019s gone \u201cabove and beyond\u201d to support children\u2019s causes.<\/p>\n

Larry Montes is taken into custody after reportedly assaulting someone at Central Synagogue. Central Synagogue<\/p>\n

Montes allegedly snarled, \u201cF\u2013k the Jews,\u201d during the shocking attack, according to police. Central Synagogue<\/p>\n

Expressions of support poured in for Anenberg-Poma, a former Disney creative marketing executive<\/a> whose LinkedIn profile<\/a> revealed she was a \u201cHillary for America\u201d volunteer and active with the Lower East Side Girls Club.<\/p>\n

Anenberg-Poma defiantly hit back at her attacker in an Instagram post. Michele Anenberg-Poma \/ Instagram<\/p>\n

\u201cI am heartbroken that this happened to you,\u201d wrote a supporter who thanked the victim for speaking up. \u201cAfter an antisemitic attack, you have every right to isolate and lick your wounds.\u00a0\u00a0 Instead, you are coming forward as a light for the Jewish community. Many non-Jews stand with you, myself included.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another supporter wrote, \u201cThank you for reminding us of the light, no matter what they try to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Larry Montes was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime. Facebook\/Larry Montes<\/p>\n

The plucky victim is an ardent supporter of Israel who ironically railed against the evils of antisemitism in January to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day.<\/p>\n

Anenberg-Poma posted a video blasting<\/a> \u201cthe evil of radicalized, proliferated antisemitism that is present at every turn. We must stand up for all freedom-loving people.\u201d<\/p>\n

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