NYPD probes slew of anti-Semitic attacks during Hanukkah holiday

The NYPD is investigating incidents described as bias attacks during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

News 12 Staff

Dec 26, 2019, 6:01 PM

Updated 1,588 days ago

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The NYPD is investigating incidents described as bias attacks during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
One of the attacks took place on Tuesday in Crown Heights.
Police say a group of 10 to 15 people started yelling anti-Jewish slurs at a Jewish man on Kingston Avenue and threw a drink at him.
Also on Tuesday, a 65-year-old man was punched while the attacker yelled anti-Semitic slurs on the Upper East Side in Manhattan.
On Monday, police say two young boys, a 6 and a 7-year-old, were beaten and harassed by two assailants.
Elected officials are speaking against the attacks. Councilman Chaim Deutsch tweeted, "We can't even get through the 8 days of Chanukah without a hate crime here in NYC."
Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted in part, "It's not enough to condemn anti-Semitism — we have to confront it."
Members of the Jewish community tell News 12 being under attack, especially during the holiday season, is not an easy one, but that they look toward a brighter future.
"It's just frustrating really, but everything is a miracle and everything we've got to learn from, and from every attack, we can learn something, and we unite even more," says Sophia Serur, a resident.
The NYPD does confirm there was a fourth attack on a Jewish man early Wednesday morning in Borough Park, where the victim was punched in the face. However, right now that has not been deemed a bias incident by investigators.
Councilmember Chaim Deutsch says the most recent anti-Semitic attack happened on Thursday tweeting out, "It's only the fifth night of Chanukah, but we've just had our sixth hate crime of the holiday. This afternoon, a female physically assaulted another woman in Sheepshead Bay, while referring to her as a "f*****g Jew". TY @NYPD61Pct & @NYPDHateCrimes for the quick arrest."
He told News 12 this points to a larger problem.
Some members of the Jewish community in Crown Heights – where one of those attacks happened - say people are looking over their shoulders.


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