The police arrested a man in connection with an antisemitic attack on an elderly Jewish couple on their way to a Beverly Hills synagogue on Saturday.
Officers booked Jarris Jay Silagi, 44, “on the suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery, elder abuse and a hate crime.”
From NBC Los Angeles:
Raphy and Rebecca, who asked NBC4 not to use their last names, are staying resilient after they were attacked while walking to the Beverly Hills Synagogue. While taking their stroll near the area of North Rexford Drive and North Santa Monica Boulevard, a man ran up behind the couple in a robbery attempt.”All of a sudden, I see the guy hitting my husband with the belt and screaming, ‘Give me your earrings, Jew,'” an emotional Rebecca recalls.The attacker struck Raphy repeatedly.“At first, it was shock,” Raphy said. “It was a huge hard knock on my forehead here.” The victim added that the blows left his face bloodied.Unable to let the attack go, the couple bravely chased after the assailant. That’s when a police officer noticed the commotion and called for backup.
Raphy added, “I was enraged, not because of the thing, but because I was hit as a Jew.”
Raphy wore a yarmulke.
Doctors treated Raphy for a deep cut on his head, giving him four staples.
Raphy still gave a reading at the Young Israel of North Beverly Hills. Rebecca retrieved a clean shirt at home.
Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook said, “This despicable act of hate against a member of our community will not be tolerated.”
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