The victim of Friday night’s attack on a prominent Big Apple synagogue is defiantly punching back against her unhinged attacker.
“I am the woman who was assaulted last night at Central Synagogue. You will not punch out our Jewish light. You will not stand and cause harm to our eternal light,” wrote a weary-looking Michele Anenberg-Poma on Instagram Saturday, along with a photo of herself revealing a bloody busted lip and an open gash on her right forearm.
“We will continue to sing our prayers of peace, love, and joy while protecting the voices that lead us each week,” she wrote.
“Our beloved Central Synagogue stands for all — stands so tall, a light, a light truly for all.”
The 63-year-old congregant was allegedly slugged by Larry Montes, 46, who police sources said seethed “F–k the Jews” during the shocking attack on the high profile Upper East Side synagogue.
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..
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.
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 at his arraignment late Saturday.
Friends described Anenberg-Poma as having “the biggest heart,” someone who’s gone “above and beyond” to support children’s causes.
Expressions of support poured in for Anenberg-Poma, a former Disney creative marketing executive whose LinkedIn profile revealed she was a “Hillary for America” volunteer and active with the Lower East Side Girls Club.
“I am heartbroken that this happened to you,” wrote a supporter who thanked the victim for speaking up. “After an antisemitic attack, you have every right to isolate and lick your wounds. Instead, you are coming forward as a light for the Jewish community. Many non-Jews stand with you, myself included.”
Another supporter wrote, “Thank you for reminding us of the light, no matter what they try to do.”
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.
Anenberg-Poma posted a video blasting “the evil of radicalized, proliferated antisemitism that is present at every turn. We must stand up for all freedom-loving people.”
