An Israeli educator in Manhattan and a Jewish man in Los Angeles were attacked for wearing a kippa.
By Rachel Avraham
According to the Combat Antisemitism Movement, an Israeli educator was assaulted in Manhattan for wearing a kippah. Rami Glikstein, 58, was visiting the United States with his family and walking toward Mr. Broadway, a well-known kosher restaurant located in Midtown Manhattan, near Times Square, the Combat Antisemitism Movement reported.
According to the report, a stranger confronted Glikstein, pointed at his kippah, and demanded, “Tell me what your religion is.” Glikstein tried to walk away, the Combat Antisemitism Movement noted. According to the report, the attacker then yanked off Glikstein’s kippah, threw it to the ground, spat on it, and punched Glikstein in the face.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement reported that medical staff at a nearby hospital treated Glikstein for his injuries. According to the report, the police are investigating the assault as a hate crime motivated by antisemitism.
Meanwhile, around the same period of time, Arutz Sheva reported that a Jewish man was robbed at gunpoint on his way home from synagogue in Los Angeles, which has a large Jewish population. According to the report, the driver made a U-turn after spotting the victim’s yarmulke.
According to Arutz Sheva, the robbery took place on Shabbat in Beverlywood, a neighborhood home to many Jewish residents. According to witnesses, the assailants identified the man as Jewish because of the yarmulke on his head as he walked home from synagogue. Arutz Sheva reported that the driver made a sudden U-turn, and several armed men exited the vehicle and robbed the victim.
According to the report, the incident was caught on a home security camera in the neighborhood. Arutz Sheva reported that it remains unclear exactly what was stolen, as the victim was not carrying a wallet or cellphone. According to the report, it is believed the attackers may have taken his watch or another valuable item.
Children playing outside witnessed the disturbing event, Arutz Sheva reported. According to the report, the police have launched an investigation and are searching for three men involved in the robbery. According to Arutz Sheva, the StopAntisemitism organization, which monitors and combats antisemitism, publicized the incident and classified it as a hate crime targeting Jews. The group is calling on the public to help identify the suspects.
These two incidents reflects a broader pattern in which Jews are increasingly targeted for visible signs of their identity — whether wearing a kippah, a Star of David, or other Jewish symbols. Across major cities worldwide, such displays of faith have too often become triggers for harassment and violence, underscoring the urgent need to confront antisemitism wherever it appears, the Combat Antisemitism Movement stressed.
Photo from Jewish Learning Institute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA9ZnoZZ7Dw
