Chabad emissary stabbed outside Boston

Rabbi Noginsky has been working at Shaloh House Jewish Day School in Brighton, MA, as a teacher and Rabbi for the last two years. Image by Google Maps

By Jacob Kornbluh July 1, 2021

A Chabad emissary was stabbed multiple times outside a synagogue and Jewish day school he heads in Brighton, Massachusetts, on Thursday afternoon.

Rabbi Shlomo Noginsky, a rabbi at the Chabad House in Brighton Commons Park, known as the “Shaloh House” in Greater Boston, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Boston Police said the suspect was arrested on the scene and the motive is unknown at the moment. The suspect had a knife and a gun on him when he was apprehended, police said.

Police identified the suspect as Khaled Awad, 24, of Brighton. He has been charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a police officer, Boston Police said.

The building houses a synagogue, a summer day camp, Gan Israel; as well as a preschool and a day school. The facility was immediately put under lockdown and the kids were safe, according to Chabad.org, a Chabad-Lubavitch website.

Awad allegedly approached the rabbi, drew a firearm and attempted to force him to his car. After a struggle, he stabbed Noginski multiple times.

“We are all very shaken by what happened and ask for you to please keep Rabbi Noginski in your prayers,” Shaloh House director Rabbi Don Rodkin said in a statement. “We are heartened by the outpouring of concern and compassion we have received in just the last hours since the incident.”

In an interview from his hospital bed, Noginski said he is grateful to the police for their rapid response and is “looking forward to returning to my work as soon as possible.”

This post was updated.

Jacob Kornbluh is the Forward’s senior political reporter. Follow him on Twitter @jacobkornbluh or email [email protected].

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