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After being attacked and beaten with a belt in Beverly Hills on Saturday by a man who made disturbing comments, Raphy Nissel, who was on his way to the synagogue with his wife when the attack happened, is speaking out.
According to a press release from the Beverly Hills Police Department, officers responded to the area of North Rexford Drive and North Santa Monica Boulevard after 9 on the phone of an assault with a dangerous weapon.
“We’re Orthodox Jews and we don’t drive on Sunday, on Saturday, we walk,” Raphy told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff.
While the couple was on their way to the synagogue, they encountered a man holding his belt, who the police later identified as Jarris Jay Silagi, 44 years old. parents of LA.
“He was holding it in his hand,” said Rebecca Nissel, Raphy’s wife. “He hit my wife on the head, shouting, ‘Jew, give me your earrings.'”
For his part, Raphy said that at the beginning of the attack, he did not know why the man hit him.
“I didn’t know what it was, but it was very heavy, very difficult and very painful,” he explained. “Before I fell down.” I was just confused about what was going on.”
The couple chased the 44-year-old and called the police, who eventually managed to arrest Silagi.
Raphy said the assailant apparently noticed her religious dress and confronted her because she was Jewish.
“I quickly connected the dots and understood,” he said. “I’m wearing a kippah and a white shirt, which Jews wear on Saturday. He knows I’m a Jew and he wants to beat me because I’m a Jew.”
Alan Tzvika Nissel, son of Raphy, posted to X, formerly Twitterabout attacking his 75-year-old father and his 70-year-old mother and posted a picture of Raphy’s bloody shirt.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, it’s more than 350% increase in damage since the bloody attack by Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7.
LA County District Attorney George Gascón on Sunday released a statement on social media condemning the graffiti that was spread on walls and sidewalks in Westwood over the weekend, saying the incident “is another act of evil that causes fear and anger for many in our community, including me. .”
Local and state leaders voiced their outrage at Sunday’s attack in Beverly Hills.
“The person responsible for this heinous act has been arrested and must be held accountable to the full extent of the law,” LA Mayor Karen Bass X said. “The city of Los Angeles will continue to work with our partners throughout the region to strengthen the fight against terrorism.”
“This is dangerous. Antisemitism has no place in this state,” said governor Gavin Newsom X said. “Thank you to hear that the person responsible for this situation has been arrested. They must be fully accounted for.”
As for the 75-year-old himself, he said he is speaking with the intention of educating people about the dangers of protest.
“I want the media and the world to educate people, make sure that protest is not just a bad word, but it has a meaning that can bring chaos and something you don’t want to know,” Raphy said.
After he was treated for head injuries during the attack, Raphy returned to the synagogue where he read aloud from the Torah in a moment of strength and perseverance in the face of the intolerance.
“He has incredible strength, which he knew he could do and he did,” Rebecca said.
“I don’t want a man like that to change my life, to change other people’s lives, to hurt me,” said Raphy. “I don’t want to give up another victory.”
Authorities at the Beverly Hills Police Department confirmed that the 44-year-old made hostile comments to the victim during the attack. Silagi is still being held on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery, elder abuse and hate crime. He will appear in court on Tuesday.