Orthodox Jewish Man Raphy Nissel Speaks Out After Antisemitic Attack in Beverly Hills

After an elderly man was attacked and beaten with a belt in an apparent hate crime in Beverly Hills, he and his family are speaking out about the incident. Raphy Nissel and his wife were on their way to synagogue when they were confronted by a man wielding a belt and spouting antisemitic comments. The couple chased the attacker and called the police, who were able to apprehend him. Raphy believes that he was targeted because he was wearing religious attire that indicated he was Jewish.

This incident comes amidst a significant increase in antisemitic incidents in the US since a violent attack by Hamas on Israeli soil. The Anti-Defamation League reported a 350% increase in antisemitic incidents following the attack. In response to this recent attack, local and state leaders have condemned antisemitism and called for the individual responsible to be held accountable.

Raphy Nissel’s son, Alan Tzvika Nissel, took to social media to share the news of the attack and posted a photo of his father’s bloodied kippah. Raphy himself is speaking out in the hopes of raising awareness about the dangers of antisemitism and educating people about its consequences.

Despite the trauma of the attack, Raphy showed remarkable resilience. After receiving treatment for his injuries, he returned to the synagogue and read aloud from the Torah, demonstrating his strength and perseverance in the face of intolerance. Raphy expressed his determination not to let the attacker change his life or give him another victory.

The Beverly Hills Police Department confirmed that the attacker made antisemitic statements during the assault. The 44-year-old suspect is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery, elder abuse, and a hate crime. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.