Antisemitic synagogue attacker revealed to be obsessed with converting to Judaism

A 46-year-old man from the Bronx has been accused of assaulting a woman and a security guard whilst vandalising religious items at a Manhattan synagogue in what authorities are treating as a hate crime. However, Larry Montes’s own family members have come forward with a startling claim: that the suspected attacker is actually suffering from severe mental health issues and has developed an obsession with Judaism itself.

The allegations against Montes emerged following the incident at the Manhattan synagogue, where he is accused of targeting worshippers and damaging sacred religious objects. Prosecutors have charged him under hate crime legislation, suggesting the attack was motivated by antisemitism.

Yet according to his aunt, Montes’s behaviour stems not from genuine hatred of Jewish people, but from profound psychological distress. She has claimed that her nephew has become fixated on Judaism and harbours dreams of converting to the faith. The family’s account suggests a picture far more complicated than a straightforward hate crime, raising questions about the mental health crisis and how it intersects with violent incidents in religious communities.

The case highlights an often-overlooked dimension of antisemitic attacks: that perpetrators’ motivations can sometimes reflect deeper psychological turmoil rather than ideological conviction. Mental health experts have increasingly noted that obsessive preoccupations can manifest in violent or disturbing behaviour, particularly when individuals are already experiencing significant psychological distress.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.