Two Israelis were brutally attacked Sunday afternoon outside the Augustine restaurant in San Jose.
Daniel and Lior, who asked to be identified by their first names only, spoke with the Journal about the assault, which left them with injuries to their heads, backs and stomachs. The two said they had been speaking Hebrew while waiting for a table, which they believe led the attackers to identify them as Israelis.
“We were walking from the mall to the restaurant and asked for a table for two,” Lior said. “While we were waiting, the hostess went to get the menu, and then it happened.”
According to the two men, three individuals who were standing behind them suddenly began punching them without saying a word. Some bystanders captured the attack on their phones.
In the video, the three assailants — wearing black shirts — can be seen violently punching the two Israelis and knocking them to the ground.
“No one at the restaurant or among the people around us came to help,” Lior said. “It all happened very fast.”
A friend of the victims later identified the three assailants as MMA fighters and claimed they are Arabs.
The incident took place around 4:30 p.m. Following the attack, Lior and Daniel went to the hospital, where they were treated for cuts and bruises until the following morning.
Daniel after the attack
Lior, who has lived in the United States for 21 years, said he was hit in the head, back and stomach and is currently unable to lie on his head or chew. Despite the ordeal, he said he refuses to be intimidated or stop speaking Hebrew in public.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced an antisemitic incident,” he said. “We need to stay strong.”
The two friends reported the attack to the San Jose Police Department but said they were disappointed with the response from the detective assigned to the case.
“The saddest part of this story is how the police handled it,” Lior said. “Only today did the investigator reach out to us and told me he is busy and has other cases. He also told Daniel, ‘This doesn’t look good for you.’ What does that mean? We didn’t start it — we were attacked by MMA fighters. It could have ended very badly. I have kids.”
The FBI has been notified, and tips can be submitted to local authorities.
The Journal contacted the restaurant for comment and was told it could not comment because the case is under investigation.
For more than a decade, the comedy duo known as YidLife Crisis, featuring Eli Batalion and Jamie Elman, have been blending sharp humor, Jewish culture and a healthy dose of Yiddish into their creative projects.
Now, the Montreal-rooted pair are bringing their latest film and live performance to Los Angeles.
On March 12, the duo will appear at the Museum of Tolerance for a special evening centered on their new documentary, “Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm.” The event — which combines a film screening with live comedy, music and nosh— offers audiences a chance to experience the pair’s distinctive blend of storytelling, cultural exploration and Jewish humor.
“We’re about different flavors of Judaism and bringing them together,” Elman said in a recent Zoom interview, appearing alongside Batalion, his longtime creative partner. “What we’re after is hashtag-Jewish-joy. It’s been a rough few years.”
Batalion and Elman grew up together in Côte-Saint-Luc, a heavily Jewish suburb of Montreal that helped shape their cultural sensibilities and comedic voice. Today, their lives span two cities: Batalion still lives in Montreal while Elman is based in Los Angeles.
Eleven years ago, the duo launched YidLife Crisis as the internet’s first Yiddish-language web series, a project that quickly gained international attention for its clever mix of contemporary Jewish life and classic Yiddish expression. Since then, Batalion and Elman have expanded their work into documentaries and live performances that explore Jewish communities around the world, from London to Tel Aviv, as part of what they call their “Global Shtetl” series.
Along the way, they’ve embraced another role—”closeted Jewish educators,” Batalion said.
Their newest project, filmed in Sweden during May and June 2024, continues that mission. In “Swedishkayt,” the pair travel to Stockholm to explore the country’s Jewish community and the surprising story of Yiddish as one of Sweden’s officially recognized minority languages.
Batalion described the production as coming together quickly and intensely.
“It was a whirlwind quick trip,” he said. They were only in Sweden for about five days. Leading up to the trip, they did interviews with nearly 50 Swedes. Afterwards, they edited the film, which aired on Swedish national television, then did a feature-length cut for the global Jewish world that has been screening at various Jewish film festivals. That is the version that will be presented in L.A. this week, with the event being co-organized by the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival.
The film itself blurs the line between genres, combining travelogue, documentary and comedy performance.
“It’s a documentary meets sort of a comedy special, if you will,” Batalion said.
Throughout the 75-minute film, Batalion and Elman meet members of Sweden’s Jewish community, learn about the country’s centuries-long Jewish history and prepare for a live performance there. The result is both an exploration of Jewish identity and a reminder that Jewish culture continues to flourish in unexpected places.
The Los Angeles program at the Museum of Tolerance will feature the film screening followed by a live performance from the duo, giving audiences a chance to experience their comedic chemistry firsthand.
Elman emphasized that the goal is to keep the experience lively and accessible.
“We are very conscious of tuchuses not becoming too numb,” he said. “And that’s how we like it: just sort of hit them hard and fast with all the shtick—the comedy, the music, and as it turns out, the education, since, over the last couple of years, Eli and I have asked dozens, if not hundreds, of extremely well educated, worldly Jews around the world to name the only country in the world where Yiddish is a protected minority language with government protections and funding and so far it’s zero for 200 people we’ve asked [who knew about the status of Yiddish of Sweden].”
The upcoming appearance is also something of a rarity for Los Angeles audiences. The duo doesn’t perform in the city often. In fact, the last time YidLife Crisis appeared onstage locally was in 2019 at Shomrei Torah Synagogue — now known as Hamakom.
The Los Angeles appearance also comes at a busy time for the duo. The March 12 event will precede a hometown performance in Montreal on March 29.
For Batalion and Elman, the goal remains simple: create a space where people can laugh while connecting with Jewish culture in new ways.
“The meta story is every Jewish event—not every, but many now—are pretty damn tragic,” Batalion said. “And this is one of the few things, and this has been corroborated at all the film festivals that we’ve gone to, this is one of the few things that’s a celebration of Jewish joy, life and being Jewish around the world.”
Let’s start with a universal, timeless truth: victimhood sucks.
Any therapist or life coach or expert on happiness will tell you that the most destructive mindset is to blame others for your problems.
This misdirection is as good for you as a large bag of Doritos that tastes great but clogs up your arteries.
Victimhood clogs up your life.
The tasty junk never satisfies because the problems never go away.
Which brings us to antisemites, or should I say, Jew-haters.
Jew-haters are junk food peddlers. They’re so disgusted by the success of Jews they want to trap us into becoming weak victims.
The more hate they throw at us, the more they hope we’ll join the grievance train that now rages through modern life.
This grievance train carries the left as well as the right. On the left, the victims are all marginalized groups, and on the right, the victims are white males. They’re all victims of the “system.”
Because grievance is so alluring– after all, every noble cause in history is rooted in some sort of grievance– these victims are grabbing most of the eyeballs in our attention economy. And the more attention they get, the more people want to hop on the train.
Jews are no exception.
Why shouldn’t we also partake in the dopamine hit of feeling like victims?
Haven’t you seen the latest surveys? Jew-hatred is at an all-time high!
Since we’ve earned our victim status the hard way, what’s the problem?
The problem is that the victim mindset is the opposite of Jewish.
It’s the opposite of the American story.
It’s the opposite of how American Jews approached their lives in this new promised land. No matter how bad things got, the Jewish way was not to blame others for their problems but to work harder and smarter.
On the grievance train, no one tells you to work harder and smarter.
They only teach you how to whine louder.
Jews know that in the long run, complaining is for losers.
Jew-haters also know it.
They’re hoping that all this Jew-hatred will turn us into chronic complainers.
They’re hoping we will abandon the example of the many generations of American Jews who came before us.
These Jews became one of the most successful groups in American history not by showing off their grievances but by taking responsibility for their future.
American Jews have always understood a key lesson of life: even if your victimhood is justified, if you wear it it will kill you.
They understood that becoming complainers is the most traveled road to failure.
So how can Jew-haters save the Jews?
First, by showing us who not to be. They are walking advertisements of how becoming grievance-slingers shrivels the soul, dries up your creativity and turns you into dopamine addicts.
Second, by reminding us that we don’t define ourselves through our haters. Victimhood empowers our haters; taking responsibility empowers Jews. We fight Jew-haters by doubling down on being Jewish.
Antisemites, whether they realize it or not, are the best reminder of the Jewish road we must take.
Ireland Travel TV Wins Triple Crown: Lisa Niver’s Celtic Charm on The Jet Set TV earns dotCOMM Platinum, Telly Silver & Journalism First Place
Excellence in storytelling isn’t measured by miles traveled — it’s measured by impact.
In 2025, my Ireland Travel Special on The Jet Set TV, Celtic Charm, earned recognition across three of the industry’s most respected platforms — forming a true Triple Crown of honors in digital media, broadcast television, and journalism.
🏆 Platinum – dotCOMM Awards
🏆 Silver Winner (Travel & Tourism) – Telly Awards
🏆 First Place, Lifestyle Feature – Southern California Journalism Awards
Each award represents a different dimension of storytelling. Together, they reflect something rare: a travel story that resonates across platforms and disciplines.
Platinum: Digital Excellence at dotCOMM
Celtic Charm received Platinum, the highest distinction awarded by the dotCOMM Awards, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.
The competition honors excellence in digital communication and web creativity, evaluating entries from global agencies, production companies, corporations, and independent creators. Platinum status is reserved for the top-scoring work in each category — placing Celtic Charm at the highest tier of digital storytelling.
In today’s media landscape, a travel story must live beyond broadcast. It must perform online, travel through social platforms, and maintain narrative integrity across formats. Platinum recognition affirms that this story did exactly that.
Silver: Broadcast Distinction
The journey continued with a Silver Telly Award in the Travel & Tourism category for Ireland Travel Special: Celtic Charm, which aired nationally on The Jet Set TV.
Out of more than 13,000 entries in 2025, the Telly Awards recognized the most innovative stories across all screens. This year’s honorees included acclaimed programs such as Samantha Brown’s Places to Love and The Good Road — placing Celtic Charm in distinguished company.
Broadcast excellence demands cinematic visuals, pacing, and emotional connection. Ireland delivered all three.
First Place: Journalistic Depth
Rounding out the Triple Crown, Celtic Charm earned First Place in Lifestyle Feature at the Southern California Journalism Awards.
This distinction celebrates reporting clarity, cultural insight, and narrative depth. Travel journalism at its best goes beyond scenery — it provides context, conversation, and meaning.
The Ireland Behind the Honors
Awards matter. But Ireland is why this story resonated.
From the limestone expanses of The Burren to the myth-laced basalt columns of Giant’s Causeway, the journey unfolded where geology and legend intertwine. At Giant’s Causeway, volcanic science explains the formations — yet the legend of Finn McCool remains just as present. In Ireland, folklore is not decoration; it is identity.
Creativity became immersive at the Burren Perfumery, where crafting a custom fragrance felt like bottling the Atlantic air. At Kylemore Abbey, making chocolate with Sister Genevieve blended sweetness with centuries of history.
Movement told its own story during a vibrant dance lesson with Trad on the Prom. Even moments of play — like spinning a hula hoop inside a turret at Abbeyglen Castle Hotel — reflected Ireland’s effortless blend of heritage and joy.
Falconry at Dromoland Castle offered a powerful connection to tradition, a hawk launching skyward over rolling green countryside. In Dublin, elegance and literary history converged at The Shelbourne Hotel. Driving stretches of the Wild Atlantic Way revealed dramatic cliffs and shifting light that felt cinematic long before cameras rolled.
Meeting artisan Malachy Kearns and learning about his handcrafted bodhráns underscored something essential: Ireland’s heartbeat is carried through music, craftsmanship, and story.
Every encounter layered into the narrative. Every landscape carried meaning.
Why the Triple Crown Matters
Few travel projects are recognized simultaneously for:
Digital impact
Broadcast production
Journalistic integrity
Together, these honors reflect the evolving nature of modern travel storytelling — content that must inspire viewers, inform readers, and resonate across platforms.
For me, this Triple Crown represents growth as a multimedia journalist — committed to curiosity, cultural depth, and meaningful connection wherever the journey leads.
Watch the Award-Winning Journey
Ireland has always been a land of storytellers.
I’m honored that this story — told through landscapes, legends, artisans, music, and hospitality — has now been recognized three times.
And if Ireland is calling your name, consider this your invitation.
Some stories are meant to be told. The best ones are meant to be lived.
Together, these honors reflect the evolving nature of travel storytelling — content that must resonate on television, online platforms, and within traditional journalism standards simultaneously.
In Celtic Charm, Lisa Niver guides viewers through Ireland’s historic cities, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes with curiosity and warmth. The segment balances cinematic visuals with cultural insight — an approach that continues to define her award-winning work.
From broadcast screens to digital platforms to the journalism stage, Celtic Charm proves that meaningful travel storytelling still matters — and that excellence travels well.
Awards & Honors
Over the past several years, my work across podcasting, television, and journalism has been recognized by leading industry organizations, reflecting a continued commitment to thoughtful storytelling, cultural curiosity, and meaningful conversations.
2025
Platinum DotCOMM AwardImmersing in Ireland — The Jet Set TV
Silver Telly AwardCeltic Charm travel special — The Jet Set TV
First PlaceWinner — National Arts & Entertainment Journalism AwardsPodcast Host of the Year
First Place Winner— Southern California Journalism AwardsLifestyle Feature (Make Your Own Map podcast)
Third Place — Southern California Journalism AwardsOnline Journalist of the Year
2024
Winner — National Arts & Entertainment Journalism AwardsDiversity in the Entertainment Industry
Winner (2x) — Southern California Journalism Awards Podcast interviews with:
Samantha Brown (Places to Love)
Tony Phelan (A Small Light)
Finalist (4x) — National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards
Online Journalist of the Year
Podcast interviews with:
Beth Santos (Wanderful)
Carolyn Ray (JourneyWoman)
Samantha Brown (Places to Love)
Finalist (6x) — Southern California Journalism Awards Categories included:
Online Journalist of the Year
Podcast Host
Podcast interviews with Andrew McCarthy, Samantha Brown, Christie Tate, and Tony Phelan (A Small Light)
2023
Winner — National Arts & Entertainment Journalism AwardsDiversity in TV/Streaming
Finalist (3x) — National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards
Podcast Host
Diversity in Entertainment
Personality Profile
Make Your Own Map has been streamed in 68 countries across all seven continents, connecting global audiences through conversations about creativity, courage, travel, and reinvention.
2025 Winner: Silver Telly Award for Celtic Charm travel special!
2025 5x Finalist: Southern California Journalism Awards for Online Journalist of the Year, TV/Streaming/Radio Feature, Lifestyle Feature (Podcast) & Travel Reporting (Podcast)
2024 Winner: National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards Diversity in the Entertainment Industry
2024 4x Finalist: National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards finalist for Online Journalist of the Year, and for three of my podcast interviews with Beth Santos, Wanderful, Carolyn Ray, JourneyWoman, and Samantha Brown, Places to Love.
2024 6x Finalist: Southern California Journalism Awards for Online Journalist of the Year, Podcast Host and for my podcast interviews with Andrew McCarthy, Samantha Brown, Tony Phelan and Christie Tate
2023 Winner: National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards Diversity in Entertainment
2023 3x Finalist: National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards
2023 2x Finalist: Southern California Journalism Awards for Travel Reporting and Podcast Interview
