Jewish couple targeted in antisemitic attack near Beverly Hills synagogue

A Jewish couple, Raphy, 75, and Rebecca, 70, were victims of an appalling antisemitic assault and attempted robbery while heading to their local synagogue in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. The incident, occurring on Saturday, saw the couple confronted by an assailant demanding Rebecca's earrings, yelling, "Give me your earrings, Jew."

Recalling the harrowing incident, Raphy expressed the initial shock of the attack, recounting the forceful blow to his head. Rebecca vividly recounted the aggressor hitting her husband with a belt and screaming the anti-Semitic slur.

Despite the distress caused, the couple immediately pursued their attacker. With fortune on their side, a local police officer intervened, leading to the arrest of the assailant, identified as Jarris Jay Silagi, 44. Beverly Hills police charged Silagi with assault using a deadly weapon, attempted robbery, and elder abuse, highlighting that the attack was motivated by hate.


Silagi, with a previous conviction of second-degree robbery in 2012, faces severe consequences under California law, allowing additional sentencing for hate crimes.

The aftermath left Raphy bloodied, but his determination to uphold his faith remained unshaken. He managed to attend the synagogue, emphasizing the significance of being present for a planned Torah reading despite the attack.

Rabbi Pini Dunner of the Beverly Hills Synagogue, who has been in contact with the couple, stressed their clear identification as Jewish, with Raphy wearing a yarmulke and both dressed in black-and-white attire.

This incident adds to a concerning trend of rising antisemitic and anti-Arab attacks across the U.S., coinciding with the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas militants. Rabbi Dunner expressed heightened tensions within the community due to increasing incidents of hate targeting Jews.

Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook condemned the attack, asserting a zero-tolerance stance against such despicable acts of hate within their community.

The assault left Raphy injured, yet his resilience in attending the synagogue and the community's unwavering support emphasize the unity and determination to combat rising antisemitism.

Silagi, currently in custody with a bail set at $300,000, is scheduled for a court appearance on Tuesday, facing serious charges stemming from this hate-fueled attack.