Attacked outside a synagogue in Los Angeles: “I thought this was the end”

A 32-year-old Jewish man was attacked on Monday night, when he left the Orthodox synagogue “Adat Torah” in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood in Los Angeles, and the violent attack was recorded on the security cameras. For now, the local police have not identified the attacker and are working to locate him. The victim suffered injuries, but did not require hospitalization.

In the documentation published on social networks, the attacker is seen getting out of his car and confronting the Jewish man in a dark alley. Then, pin him to the wall and strangle him. He tried to struggle, but was thrown to the floor. According to his testimony, the attacker looked at him as he rolled on the ground and told him – “Free Palestine”.

“I thought this was the end of my life,” described the victim, a Jewish studies teacher and father of three, who was not revealed for fear of his safety. “I thought this was it. This is how it was going to end. I would never have thought something like this would happen to me.” According to him, since the attack, it is difficult for him to go to the synagogue alone. The victim says that despite the incident he is not ashamed of his Jewishness and will not try to hide it, but will teach the next generation “what it means to be Jewish” and instill pride in them.

The police claim that they are investigating whether the background is indeed anti-Semitic, but according to David Anglin, senior director of the Anti-Defamation League in Los Angeles, he “left the synagogue through a back entrance, wearing traditional Jewish clothing, it was clear that he was Jewish.” Anglin said the victim “fought back, and that ultimately caused the attacker to leave. We anticipate an arrest will be made in the very near future.”

Israel Becher, Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles, said in a conversation with N12: “This is not the first time, especially in this area, where there are many synagogues. I spoke with the person attacked, he is fine. This is the result of continuous incitement, there is a general atmosphere at the moment. Because of the war with Iran, the discourse on the networks of those who hate us – is taking place.”

The current attack comes against the background of the rise in anti-Semitism in major cities in the United States. The Jewish communities have repeatedly warned that the rhetoric related to the war in the Middle East could spill over into attacks against Jewish citizens. They are now calling for broader enforcement of hate crimes, condemnation of targeted attacks against Jews, and better public education about anti-Semitism.

“That’s more than one anti-Semitic incident in the Los Angeles area a day,” Anglin explained. Ron Galperin, the interim Los Angeles regional director of the American Jewish Committee, said the attack reflected the “normalization” of anti-Semitic behavior toward Jewish communities. “Nobody should be a target because he is Jewish, period,” he emphasized.

The neighborhood where the attack took place, the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, includes one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities in the western United States. In the neighborhood there are synagogues, kosher restaurants, Jewish schools, community centers and an observant population.