New York Jewish Bookstore Manager Beaten by Self-Declared Muslim

The manager of a Jewish bookstore on the Upper West Side of Manhattan was beaten up Monday afternoon by a self-declared Muslim man who threatened to kill him.

Brooklyn native Salmon Salczer, 52, was inside West Side Judaica, when he saw a man pacing outside and peering into the store’s window. When Salczer approached the man to see what he wanted, the suspect punched him in the face repeatedly, while yelling, “F*** you Jews. I’ll kill you; I’m a Muslim,” New York Police Department officials told Jewish politics blog JP Updates.

According to JP Updates, Salczer said he feared the attacker would strike him with a metal razer scooter he was holding. The suspect is believed to have later used the scooter to flee the scene. According to police, he is still on the loose.

Salczer called authorities and filed a police report. Detectives from the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force are now investigating the incident as a hate crime.

Authorities described the suspect as a 5’10” dark-skinned male in his 20s. He was wearing a red jacket and blue jeans at the time of the assault.

In a statement to the press, Councilman Mark Levine, chairman of the NYC Jewish Caucus, said the incident serves as a “stark reminder that no neighborhood in New York City is immune from the mounting threat of antisemitic attacks.” He said Monday’s attack and every other hate crime must be “denounced in the strongest terms.”

NYC Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal said in a statement: “While it is rare for the UWS to experience hate crimes, we must be vigilant at all times. I want to thank our 24^th precinct for their rapid response… Antisemitic attacks — or any other hate crime — must be stopped.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or submit their tips at the Crime Stoppers website.

By: The Algemeiner

Send Passover Packages to Needy Israeli Soldiers - Bring Them Joy!

We are honored to thank the young men and women of the IDF who risk their lives every day to protect the citizens of Israel. Since October 7th, soldiers have been on the battlefield for months - many are hoping to come home for Passover.

Join us in sending Passover food packages (and personal notes) to Israeli soldiers and their families.

Many soldiers spend the Passover holiday with needy families back home. The soldiers greatly appreciate your love and concern. Bring them Passover joy!

CLICK HERE TO SEND YOUR PACKAGE AND NOTE TO ISRAELI SOLDIERS!