New York State Senate Liberty Medal Granted To Hero Of Monsey Attack

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The man who tried to stop the Monsey attacker from continuing his violent attack at a Chanukah party last month has been granted the New York State Senate Liberty Medal, the highest honor granted by the state.

Josef Gluck, who hurled a coffee table at the attacker and then took note of his license plate as he fled, received the medal from Sen. David Carlucci Sunday. Police used the information given by Gluck to arrest the attacker, and officials say that this may have saved countless lives, since the attacker was planning further attacks.

“In all certainty, this individual, if he would’ve not been caught, would’ve planned his third attack, and you have saved us, you have saved the people from this attack, but you have saved the community of future events,” says Aron Wieder, of the Rockland County Legislature.

Carlucci also praised Gluck at the ceremony, stating that “Out of the darkness of this tragedy, came some light. Josef Gluck did what we all hope we could do in a chaotic and violent situation. He fought back and threw a coffee table at the machete-wielding attacker. Gluck then had the peace of mind to secure the attacker’s license plate number and provide it to police, which led to the suspect’s arrest. He saved lives at the Hanukkah ceremony by warning people to leave and prevented a further tragedy.I am proud to have presented Mr. Gluck with the Liberty Medal and thank Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for instantly approving the Senate’s highest honor for Mr. Gluck. New York State thanks our very humble hero for his bravery, and we will continue to stand up against anti-Semitism and hate.”