Orthodox Jewish Man Assaulted by Six Men in NYC

A Hasidic Jewish man was assaulted by six men in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn on April 1.

The 21-year-old man, who has not been publicly identified, can be seen beaten nearby the side of a truck in grainy footage released by the New York City Police Department (NYPD). He suffered minor injuries following the assault.

WANTED for AN Assault in front of 58 Gerry Street. #Brooklyn @NYPD90pct on 4/1/22 @ 7:55 PM without and prior words or provocation, the individuals punched and kicked the Hasidic victim about the body, forcing him to the ground Reward up to $3500Call 1-800-577-TIPS. CONFIDENTIAL! pic.twitter.com/6W6kfQbU1d

— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) April 2, 2022

Graphic warning ⚠️ – video from @NYPDHateCrimes has been released showing the brutal assault of an Orthodox Jewish man this past Shabbat/Friday evening in Brooklyn. 

One has been arrested, police are still searching for the other. pic.twitter.com/Dk6mfWbqYX

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) April 3, 2022

Anti-Defamation League (ADL) New York / New Jersey Regional Director Scott Richman announced that they are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of the remaining perpetrators. “We are shocked at the viciousness of these images of this incident that have been distributed over social media and other means,” he said. “Nobody should be subjected to hateful violence in the streets of New York. We must do everything in our power to help authorities identify and apprehend those responsible, and we must also work together in order to prevent these incidents from happening in the first place.”

We are offering a reward for info leading to the arrest & conviction of the individual/s responsible for the vicious assault on a #Hasidic #Jewish man in #Williamsburg on Friday 4/1/2022. Anyone with information is urged to contact @NYPDTips and @NYPDHateCrimes pic.twitter.com/9G6V5LaCUi

— ADL New York / New Jersey (@ADL_NYNJ) April 3, 2022

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt also tweeted, “The ongoing violence and harassment against Orthodox Jewish people in Brooklyn is disgraceful. I hope $10k reward expedites the identification of the perpetrators of this latest crime.”

The ongoing violence and harassment against Orthodox Jewish people in Brooklyn is disgraceful. I hope $10k reward expedites the identification of the perpetrators of this latest crime. https://t.co/sxtt5cmhsY

— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) April 3, 2022

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, tweeted that she was “outraged” by the gang assault of the Jewish man. “An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us,” she said, adding that she’s directing the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to help the NYPD with their investigation.

I’m outraged by this act of violence against a Jewish New Yorker. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. 

I am directing the @nyspolice Hate Crimes Task Force to assist the investigation in any way possible. https://t.co/lFxcGZORTy

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 3, 2022

Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) similarly tweeted, “Antisemitic hate crimes have quadrupled in NYC—a moral stain on the soul of our city. NYC should and must be a safe space for all people, including the Jewish community.”

Antisemitic hate crimes have quadrupled in NYC—a moral stain on the soul of our city.

NYC should and must be a safe space for all people, including the Jewish community. https://t.co/8v388Wt1ro

— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) April 2, 2022

Former Knesset Member Michal Cotler-Wunsch responded to Torrest by noting that it’s important to recognize “the mutation of antisemitism into anti Zionism, including Zionists…Jews & non-Jews alike.” She linked to a previous tweet of hers highlighting a video of pro-Palestinian protesters in New York City chanting their opposition to a two-state solution because they “want all of it” and that “Zionist professors are not welcomed on your campus.”

Yes. Also, recognizing the mutation of antisemitism into anti Zionism, including Zionists…Jews & non-Jews alike: https://t.co/syTe73J9Ox

— מיכל קוטלר-וונש | Michal Cotler-Wunsh (@CotlerWunsh) April 3, 2022

New York 2022: “We don’t want no two states. We want all of it…” https://t.co/3gnxd14jDZ

— מיכל קוטלר-וונש | Michal Cotler-Wunsh (@CotlerWunsh) April 2, 2022

The Simon Wiesenthal Center also tweeted, “Attacks against religious Jews continue on streets of New York. Need strong response from City’s political and faith leaders – not only New York police.”

Attacks against religious Jews continue on streets of New York. Need strong response from City’s political and faith leaders – not only New York police. @NYPDTips https://t.co/bN2CXizlmi

— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) April 4, 2022

In addition to the attack of the Hasidic Jewish man, a group of Jewish teenagers were threatened by three teens with a machete, knife and crowbar on April 2 and were subjected to antisemitic slurs, The New York Jewish week reported. The New York Daily News also reported that the NYPD has been “investigating 81 hate crimes against Jews across the city—four times more than the 20 that were reported on the same date last year.”

New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer told the Jewish Week, “It’s all very upsetting. This has to stop.”