Jews in Brooklyn. Illustration (Photo: Shatterstock)
Antisemitic attack in New York: A Jewish rabbi was violently attacked in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, while walking down the street during Shabbat. According to the emergency services, the rabbi was moderately injured and taken to hospital.
According to local media reports, the incident occurred around 3pm (local time) when the assailant approached a rabbi walking down the street and asked him “what are you looking at?”. Immediately afterwards he hit the rabbi in the head and kicked him in the legs several times, saying that “the Nazis should have killed you Jews.”
WANTED for an Bias Assault in the v/o of President Stand Utica Ave. #Brooklyn @NYPD71pct on 5/6/22 @ 3:00 PM individual approached a 32 yo victim and punched and kick him about the head and legs and made anti-semitic remarks before fleeing Reward up to $3500 Call 1-800-577-TIPS pic.twitter.com/q9gk1v336j
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) May 7, 2022
The attacker fled the scene after a few minutes, and local police began searching for him and called on the public to help locate him – even offering a $ 3,500 reward to anyone who provided information that led to his arrest. “The fact that this attack took place in broad daylight and in the open is very worrying,” police said. “It’s important that we find the attacker as soon as possible and get him off the city streets.”
“The hate trend must stop”
Congressman Lee Zeldin later revealed the identity of the rabbi who was attacked, saying he was Rabbi Yehoshua Lebkovich, who serves as a rabbi at a synagogue in the town of Great Nick on the outskirts of New York. Zeldin condemned the attack and called for action to stop the growing wave of anti-Semitism in the United States in general and in New York in particular.
????News of yet another violent, antisemitic attack in NY. Rabbi Yehoshua Lefkowitz was just assaulted in Crown Heights. NYC’s streets & subways are filled with violence, hate, & lawlessness. Many electeds empower it & the justice system remains handcuffed. This has to end NOW! pic.twitter.com/FBE1eu1xaE
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) May 6, 2022
“The violent attack that took place today is the latest in a series of disturbing and unacceptable attacks.” Said Zeldin, a Jew who represents New York State in the House of Representatives. “Instead of passing the Sabbath in Brooklyn, Rabbi Lewkowicz was sent to the hospital bruised and beaten.”
“The trend of hatred and violence against Jews is spreading throughout our communities, throughout the country and throughout the world,” he added. “Observance of the commandments of Judaism should not be a life-threatening event. The streets of New York are now filled with violence – it must end now.”
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