Man calls victim 'Fake Jew' in possible Brooklyn bias attack

ByNaveen Dhaliwal WABC logo
Monday, April 23, 2018
Man calls victim 'Fake Jew' in possible Brooklyn bias attack
Naveen Dhaliwal has the details on what police are calling a possible Jewish bias attack in Crown Heights.

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Two unprovoked bias attacks against visibly Jewish men in Brooklyn over the last week have rattled the community. The latest attack occurred Saturday morning when a man was brutally beaten while returning home from his daily prayers.

Menachem Moskowitz, 52, says he was holding on to a fence while being jumped and then choked. Luckily there were two people nearby who ran up to help.

Moskowitz was walking home after his Sunday afternoon prayers when he casually said hello to his attacker.

"He started a tyrant. 'I hate Jews, you stole my money - call my mortgage, my house,'" says Moskowitz.

Two people walking by jumped in to help, allowing Moskowitz, shaken and injured - to get away.

"There are a lot of people unfortunately that hate Jews and want to kill the Jews," says his wife, Channah Moskowitz.

The local community has become increasingly concerned as police say this is the second attack in a week on a member of the Jewish community. One man was punched several times in the face nearby on Eastern Parkway.

"I made sure to buy a bottle of mace. I will hold it, conceal it - hopefully never have to use it," says Levi Backman.

The Anti-Defamation League is also helping by offering a $5,000 reward to find the person or people responsible for both crimes.

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