It is believed he was attacked by two teenagers
A rabbi has required hospital treatment after being attacked outside his synagogue in Essex on Sunday.
Essex Police said officers were called to Limes Avenue in Chigwell shortly after 1:15pm following reports of an assault against Rabbi Rafi Goodwin. The force have confirmed that they are treating the attack as an anti-Semitic hate crime.
LBC reports that officers believe two teenagers stepped out in front of the victim’s vehicle while he was driving, before shouting abuse at him, making anti-Semitic remarks, and damaging his car.
When Mr Goodwin got out of his car to stop them he was apparently attacked by an unknown object and went to hospital as a result, Essex Police have said.
The two attackers are believed to be aged between 15 and 18 and are thought to have fled the scene on foot.
We're working with community leaders to reassure people impacted by this assault.
If you have any information about this incident, or saw two teenagers leave the scene, call Loughton CID on 101 and quote 42/92174/21.
You can call @CrimestoppersUK 100% anonymously. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/ydfZDzeKUz
— Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) May 16, 2021
The rabbi also had his phone stolen, and community leaders have reached out to support him following the attack.
Both suspects have been described as being of Asian ethnicity. One was approximately 5ft 9in, wore his hair in an Afro-style and was wearing a black jacket. The other was described as being 5ft 7in and was wearing a black jacket and grey tracksuit bottoms.
Essex Police have confirmed that the incident was not linked to wider pro-Palestine protests that took place over the weekend.
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We know that this incident may be concerning for those in the local area, and we are working quickly to identify those responsible and to liaise with community leaders for any further support for those impacted.”
Meanwhile leader of Redbridge Council, Jas Awthwal, said: “Essex Police have confirmed that they are treating today’s attack on Rabbi Rafi as an anti-Semitic hate crime, however police are not linking the motives of this crime to heightened tensions in the Middle East and the current hostilities in Israel and Palestine.
“Anti-semitism has no place in our society and if you have any information about this unprovoked and cowardly attack, please contact the police.
“We are proud of our community and all parts of the community in Redbridge, we unequivocally condemn this attack and will continue to work together to support each other.”
Meanwhile, Moshe Freedman, Rabbi of New West End Synagogue asked followers on Twitter to pray for his “dear friend and colleague.”
https://twitter.com/MosheFreedman/status/1393971102410579970
Rabbi Herschel Gluck, the founder and chairman of the Muslim-Jewish Forum, said that the attack had touched him deeply.
Rabbi Gluck said: “Whenever a person is attacked like this, it touches me deeply.
“The person themselves, their families, their congregation and their friends are all affected by this.
“Even though it is an individual, it has much broader and wider ramifications.”
