In a disturbing incident that highlights the rising antisemitic incidents in the United States, a Jewish man was punched and robbed outside his home in Brooklyn on the first day of Hanukkah. The attack occurred amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas, which has sparked tensions globally.
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), the victim, identified as 40-year-old Joshua Merenfeld, was approached by a suspect in front of his home on Eastern Parkway. The suspect, who noticed that Merenfeld was wearing traditional Jewish attire, proceeded to repeatedly punch him in the head and steal his cellphone while making antisemitic remarks.
Merenfeld recounted the horrifying experience, stating that he was attacked from behind while enjoying a cigarette outside his home. The assailant knocked him to the ground, kicked him repeatedly, and hurled antisemitic slurs at him. Merenfeld expressed his desire for the perpetrator to be apprehended, emphasizing the danger posed by such individuals.
After the attack, the suspect fled into the Kingston Avenue and Eastern Parkway station. The victim was taken to Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital, where he is in stable condition. The NYPD has released a photo of the suspect, dressed in distinctive clothing, including a black durag, a purple scarf, a black jacket and pants with multicolored designs, and brown boots.
This assault comes at a time when antisemitic incidents are on the rise both in the United States and around the world due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. It follows another incident earlier in the day, where a 28-year-old man was arrested for firing a shotgun into the air and shouting “Free Palestine” outside a synagogue in New York’s capital. The suspect, identified as Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, an Iraqi-born U.S. citizen, claimed to be affected by events in the Middle East.
The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is now investigating this attack as an anti-Jewish incident. They are urging anyone with information to come forward and contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the pressing issue of antisemitism and the need for continued efforts to combat such hatred. It is crucial for communities to stand together against discrimination in all its forms.
