Rabbi Assaulted in Brooklyn Kensington Neighborhood by Repeat Offender
A 66-year-old rabbi was assaulted in Brooklyn by a repeat offender, while a separate knife incident occurred in Crown Heights, drawing strong condemnation from city officials.
A 66-year-old rabbi was assaulted on Wednesday evening in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn by a 31-year-old suspect, according to the New York Police Department. The victim was taken to Maimonides Medical Center, where his condition was stabilized following the unprovoked attack.
The incident occurred around 9:20 PM on Dahill Road near Cortelyou Road, captured on security footage released by the Borough Park Shomrim. Responding officers promptly arrested the suspect, Eric Avrutov, who has been charged with assault and harassment.
Police reported that just five minutes prior, Avrutov punched a 60-year-old man at a nearby gas station. Authorities stated that the assault on the rabbi is currently not being investigated as a hate crime.
Avrutov reportedly has a history of five prior arrests. On Sunday, he was arrested for allegedly striking two people in Brighton Beach without provocation, though he was released under supervision.
In a separate incident in Brooklyn on the same day, a 48-year-old man allegedly chased a Jewish student in Crown Heights while armed with a knife and shouting pro-Hitler remarks. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned both attacks as shocking and deplorable.
