Overview
- The victim, a 32-year-old Judaic studies teacher, was attacked behind Adas Torah in Pico-Robertson Monday night after he says a driver followed him into an alley.
- He says the assailant choked and threw him to the ground, used a small window-breaking tool as a weapon, and said “Free Palestine” before fleeing.
- The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the assault as a suspected hate crime and is reviewing video confirmed by a synagogue representative as showing the attack.
- Police described the suspect as just under 6 feet tall with an average build and a camo hat, and no arrests had been made as of Thursday morning.
- Jewish and civic groups condemned the assault, citing ADL data showing more than 530 verified antisemitic incidents in the LA area in 2024, and warned that rising hate is making routine walks to synagogue feel unsafe.