Australia: Chabad Bochur Threatened with Knife During Mivtza Tefillin
An 18-year-old Chabad bochur was threatened with a knife and assaulted while doing Mivtza Tefillin in a Melbourne neighborhood last Friday. Despite the frightening antisemitic attack, he returned after giving his statement to police and continued visiting Jewish homes to help fellow Jews put on Tefillin • Read More
An 18-year-old Chabad bochur was threatened with a knife and assaulted while carrying out the Rebbe’s Mivtza Tefillin in Melbourne, Australia, last Friday.
Yitzchak Lewenthal, a student at a Chabad yeshivah in Melbourne, was walking through the Bentleigh neighborhood with another bochur, offering local Jews the opportunity to put on Tefillin and distributing Shabbos candles and Challah ahead of Shabbos.
According to Australian media reports, Lewenthal politely approached an older man and asked whether he was Jewish. After responding with profanity and walking away, the man returned moments later armed with a knife, threatening to kill both Bochurim before punching Lewenthal in the stomach.
The assailant reportedly watched as Lewenthal continued knocking on the doors of Jewish homes offering Tefillin before confronting him again. Shouting that the bochur was “harassing people,” he repeatedly yelled that he would kill both him and his friend while brandishing the knife.
Police responded within minutes, located the suspect, and took him into custody for questioning. As of publication, no charges have been filed.
Despite the traumatic attack, Yitzchak refused to let the incident stop him. After giving his statement to police, he returned to the route, picked up his Tefillin, and continued visiting Jewish homes to help more Jews fulfill the mitzvah, just as he does every week.
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