“Yosef Gluck rose to the occasion and he did what we all hope we would do in a chaotic and violent situation,” State Senator Carlucci said.
By Anash.org reporter
Yosef Elya Gluck, who charged the suspect during the attack in Monsey on Motzoei Shabbos Chanukah in Monsey, received New York State Senate’s highest civilian award the Senate Liberty Medal.
The 32-year-old Monsey resident used a table to stop the attack that left five people wounded, including 72-year-old Yosef Neumann who as a result of the attack remains in a coma.
Gluck humbly accepted the award presented by State Sen. David Carlucci, (D-Rockland and Westchester) for his heroic actions during the Dec. 28 attack on Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg‘s home.
“Yosef Gluck did what we all hope we would do in a chaotic and violent situation,” Carlucci said. “He fought back and threw a coffee table at the machete-wielding attacker.”
With the presence of mind to get the suspect’s license plate number as he fled from the home, Gluck provided police with a description of his car and license plate, and Grafton Thomas, the alleged attacker, was caught two hours in Manhattan.
“We can rest a little easier because of the heroic act that Josef did,” said Carlucci.
Officials say the fact that Gluck got the attacker’s license plate saved lives that night — possibly countless more.
“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.
