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New York Synagogue Attack: Man Who Threw Table At Suspect Receives Liberty Medal For Heroic Actions

MONSEY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Rockland County man has received one of New York's highest honors for helping to save lives during the synagogue stabbing in Monsey last weekend.

Josef Gluck, 32, was presented with the New York State Senate Liberty Medal by State Sen. David Carlucci on Sunday.

Gluck was also recognized for his bravery last Tuesday in Ramapo.

Police say Gluck threw a wooden table at the suspect accused of stabbing five people then followed the man outside to take down his license plate number.

"If you would've asked me a day before if something like this is gonna happen what are you gonna do, I would say run for my life as far as I could. I would never imagine that I would be the one they call a hero to run and do what I did," Gluck said.

"I feel honored by God to even give me such merit to do this."

Authorities say those actions led to the arrest of Grafton Thomas in Harlem hours later.

Thomas is facing charges of attempted murder and federal hate crimes.

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