By Mary Frost, Brooklyn Daily Eagle
A prominent Orthodox rabbi was attacked on a Brooklyn Heights street this past Sunday evening, and community members say the incident fits into a pattern of crime on Joralemon Street.
Rabbi Aaron Raskin, spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai Avraham, an Orthodox synagogue on Remsen St., said he was approached from behind by five individuals and assaulted while walking down Joralemon Street towards his home, according to his spokesperson Warren H. Cohn.
Rabbi Raskin, 48, was punched while talking on his cell phone, according to Cohen, who issued a release about the incident and also spoke directly to the Brooklyn Eagle.
Raskin’s phone was knocked to the ground by the blow. The group laughed and attempted to pick up the Rabbi’s phone and take it with them, according to Cohn.
Cops arrested a 15-year-old male, who was charged with attempted grand larceny. No injuries were reported from the incident.
Cohn said that there was suspicion at first that the attack was a hate crime, but it soon seemed apparent that it was just one of a series of what he called “random crimes” in Brooklyn Heights.
He said that women with strollers have been attacked on Joralemon and Henry streets. (Police did not confirm this assertion by press time.) The attacks often involve “someone just walking up to them and hitting them,” like in the well-publicized “Knockout Game,” Cohn said.
Cohn told the Eagle he feels the attack may be related to teenagers who use Joralemon Street as a corridor going to or from Brooklyn Bridge Park.
to #11: you obviously have not been living in brooklyn for too long…
the way they refer to these crimes seem so casual. just because its not a hate crime doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be treated seriously
It’s “just” a random attack, phew!! I’m so happy. I’m sure Rabbi raksin was thrilled to get punched on the street randomly. Hey everyone, come to Brooklyn and feel free to punch people randomly
“Raskin’s phone was knocked to the ground”
We know what that means.
If it would’ve been the other way around, a white guy punch a black guy what would they have said??????
Just a ‘ random attack’ ??????
There is also the liberal side of the event that perhaps the young men were afraid of the Rabbi walking down the sidewalk so they were just trying to protect themselves.
Boruch Hashem the Rabbi is o. K. It is so sad to think that there are people who self destruct by thinking that violence is their ticket to self esteem and peer approval.The Baal Shem Tov ,as we know said that if you m Need to travel with a non Jewish baaleh golleh ,travel with one who crosses himself ,since it shows that he has the fear of Heaven within themselves..So sad that in the name of democracy ,public school children are deprived of a true moral education based on fear of a higher power. I say children, because these… Read more »
I hope you’re ok! SO SCARY!!!
vioence is ugly and i hope the perpertrators are caught and justice served. I’m wondering about the attack thouh. what does this mean – “The group laughed and attempted to pick up the Rabbi’s phone and take it with them”
attempted to pick up the phone? did he fight them off? ikar choser…
hope you are okay, keep up the great work.
Oh Vey I hope Rabbi Raskin is OK
Carry mace!