By COLlive reporter
A veteran store owner and activist in Crown Heights was sent to a Brooklyn hospital after trying to fend off a disturbed man from harassing Jews on Wednesday afternoon.
Israel Shemtov, known for his anti-criminal activity and nicknamed “the red devil,” was punched in the face when he intervened in a public disturbance scene.
Bystanders said that a black male, who seemed drunk, was roaming around on the corner of Kingston Avenue and Crown Street at approximately 6:45 pm on Wednesday, and continuously harassing Jewish residents.
“The man was acting drunk and belligerent, and kicked over a gumball machine in front of a store,” a spokesperson from the NYPD 71st Precinct said. “The owner of the store came out and had a verbal dispute with him.”
Israel Shemtov then approached the man and tried to talk to him, Police said.
“I was there and saw the whole thing,” one eyewitness, who was there before police officers and Hatzalah medical services came to the scene, told COLlive.com.
“The guy was picking a fight with anybody who walked by, myself included, just shouting ‘*expletive* Jews,'” the Jewish man said.
“It wasn’t physical at all and the man was even somewhat cooperative, until he suddenly punched Israel in the face,” he said. “At that point everybody standing by watching charged at the guy.”
Shemtov was rushed to the hospital, with a bloody nose, possibly broken.
The attacker was taken into custody and is being charged with Assault 2, Police said.
Update, 10:35 pm:
Rabbi Israel Shemtov has been released from the hospital, and “is doing well,” his family has informed.
YISROL IS 100 % BAL MISERAS NEFESH
I personally dont care what race or gender he is. The fact that a fellow Jew waws hurt should pain us all. I really hope someone will write a comment about his recovery… I would really like to know how he is doing.
Your blind hatred and intolerance for others who look or think differently than you is appalling. Remember, there are chassidim of all races in our schunah.The next time you worry about whether your hat’s pinch makes you mekusher enough, think about how the Rebbe would react to your racist and insensitive comments.
Ironically, you posted your comment on the day we remember what such hatred did to to over 6 million members of our family. Think about that for a minute….
STOP ARGUING! we need moshiach RIGHT NOW
p.s. if everyone would have as much ahavas yisroel as rabbi shemtov moshiach would have already been here!
#3 YOUR “RACIAL SENSITIVITY” IS SICKENING,
AND SENSE OF “FAIRNESS” IS MISGUIDED.
YOU ARE A LIBERAL THROUGH AND THROUGH.
A REFUAH SHLEIMA TO REB ISROEL, AND TO YOU FOR DIFFERENT REASONS ALTOGETHER.
dont label
Thank you for coming forward. We must take a stand to overcome ignorance and stigma on this community: 100%
Crown H although 770 is Beis MOshiach , CH is THE HOOD! Straight up. There will always be problems between BLacks And JEWs. Doesnt MEAN COL Needs TO PUT BLACK DRUNK on the title. This makes it hard for jews of COlor to live around or near Jewish communities because half of the commuinty is staring at them asking them if they are jewish or making rascist comments . If that Man would have been WHITE would the title reade”WHITE DRUNK” NO! but its ok to HAVE BLACK DRunk. What is a Chossid? you dont have enough brains to figure… Read more »
I agree with you
Shulamis A. Haber The Women of #BlackLivesMatter| BY BRITTNEY COOPER
A new civil rights movement has emerged from the tragic killings of young African Americans—and women are at the activist forefront.
How to Defuse Police Violence | BY KATHERINE SPILLAR
One simple answer has been overlooked: Hire more women officers.
It is good to look at ALL SIDES of an issue rather than taking sides. ALL in ALL, if we want to see positive change then we have to think OUT of the box like Albert Einstein because a problem is never solved at the level it was created.
If more Yidden had an ounce of the wisdom you have, I might have more respect for them. I understand the frustration, hurt, etc.; however, calling a whole race of people a derogatory name is just plain ignorant ! It’s as ignorant as a non Jew calling all Jews a “whatever”! I understand that a lot of crime is perpetrated on Jews by African Americans living in the vicinity. What I hope bigoted Jews remember are the crimes perpetrated by Jews ! Nedogedacht, little Levy,,abused children, abused adults, and more,hiding it under the rug. Granted, the style is usually different;… Read more »
You racist
Community leaders are calling to make a mass demonstration on sunday at 11am in front of 770.
Than proceeding down Kinston ave
the hilltop youth want to know what we can do to help!
with out u chasanim woldmt have kapotos with u thy did
thank u
The Red Devil saves Crown Heights again! We need to get him a cape!!!
Think for a moment…what our ancestors must have felt…when we were also slaves…treated as animals…used and abused. Think for a moment out of the box- think of the pain and affliction that a person of color must feel when referred to as an animal and treated as such. It baffles me that as a Jewish people we can be so small minded. I am new to this community but I am not new to racism. Where I was raised, in Northern California, there is a different level and respect for African American people than I have encountered here in Crown… Read more »
He attacked the Rabbi because he is an anti-semite and this is a hate crime
He’s not black,he’s a Nazi.
This animal is BLACK. HE was the one calling out hateful messages, yet you left wing liberal losers think WE need to stop referring to him as black? Why? Isn’t he black? Maybe I am color blind, but in those pictures he sure looks black to me.
buying pepper spray in nyc is illeagal and is not alollowed and if u spray and ur caugh with it and its size and strenght was not in compliance with nyc pepper spray law u will get arrested to get pepper spray u need to buyit in a store and has to be low strength on 2 botles at a time . u have to buy it in a gun store or in a police uniform store and u have to be 18 and older u have to show i d u have to be checkedand be have a clean… Read more »
Thank God for shmira . There were 3 members driving by in the shmira car ,and they sprung in to action , caught the guy in seconds.
These men are brave.
I watch the shmira guy call the police.
The police were there in seconds.
Shmira is just amazing
Glad I moved out years ago. This kind of stuff happens just too often lately… what if this ‘drunk attacker’ had attacked a child? Or shemtov’s injuries had been G-d forbid, more serious? It’s rediculous that the community puts up with this kind of violence.
Were area the activist screaming hate crime charges and assault charges
R’ Yisroel Shemtov is a true hero, always there for everyone in our community. B’H he is ok, so happy to read the update.
I don’t agree with the change. The man is black. He attacked a Jewish man. It’s about time we face the reality of our situation here in crown heights. Was anyone surprised to read it? I doubt it.
Some of the above comments, possibly by the same person, show a hostile pressure to stop this blog from posting details about the criminal (that he is black) yet a complete lack of interest or comment regarding the many people who were affected by today’s outrage. I reserve my concern for the victims. Yes another black resident of crown heights turns to the Jews when he wants to abuse people.
I vote for zero tolerance for crime. Lock them up and throw away the key. Public safety comes first. We need to protect ourselves from the increasingly prevalent incidents from thugs who have been given the impression that Jews are the easy targets.
If any of you have had the oppertunity to fabreng with such a power of an individual , you will realise the love of where rabbi shemtov comes from. Even at his age he shows what being a true jew is and standing up to all those around him
some talk the talk rabbi shemtov walks the walk
refuah shleimah
Most crime in CH is commited by the blacks, its a STATISTICAL FACT…the blacks know it, the Jews know it and the police know it.
If the Crown Heights Jewish community wants the streets to be safer, there needs to be less blacks
The title lead on the Facebook posting really needs to be changed. Also in response to some over zealous comments, the guy isn’t necessarily an antisemite or hateful. Drunk? High? Mentally ill? All 3? I worked in a jail many years and while a menace in their own way, definitely Not the same thing as an affirmed sober and mentally competent rasha. Of course, B’H Mr. Shemtov is okay.
If this happens one more time i will start a protest
As Jews we have to stick together
It looks like Rabbi Shemtov is going to need his shirt cleaned. Hope he gets better quick!
Everyone should carry all the time a can of pepper spray or mace you could buy a cheap one on Amazonm
yes there black and savage acting
none of the black people in this hood
care about the safty of jews or blacks
that means if they dont come and say some thing
then there in co to blame
Black Drunk? What not just ‘drunk’. A little racist
I hope he will be ok I know him he is a great human being.
I hope Reb Yisrael leaves the hoispital soon.
I KNEW softball was just the Beginning
r yisroel is someone who puts his life aside to help all yidden
the second day in a row a hate crime was committed by members of the black community!
just saying.
The exact same thing happened to me a little over 3 years ago. In my case the vicious animal ( sorry to the animals that I compare these people to you guys ) was never caught.
All levels of justice should be pounded on this wild gorilla.
Rabbi Shemtov is a Chosid who is constantly doing ahavas Yisroel just today he saw me walking home with heavy packages & he insisted that he drive me home. Rabbi Shemtov may you have a quick & complete recovery!! We need you!
What difference does the attacker’s race make?
Would it be better if the attacker was white?
or Yid on Yid? Please don’t say it wouldn’t happen we are often quite mean to each other verbally and it could escalate to physical
wow thank you zaidy shemtov for protecting your fellow yidden. May you have a speedy speedy recovery!
Yisroel Shemtov is the best man!
Always there to protect us 24/7
Strongest activist in crown heights, not scared to call it out how it is,
Maybe change it to “Activist Attacked by Drunk Anti-Semite”? His race is descriptive, but irrelevant to the act committed. Using skin color like that is just incendiary, especially with the current culture of divisiveness and racial tension.
רפואה שלימה לר’ ישראל בעל שם-טוב
thanks for pointing out that he was black. really helpful.