Jewish Boy Assaulted in Crown Heights While Biking to School

A 13-year-old Jewish boy was assaulted while biking to school in Crown Heights around 8 AM on Monday, his mother told JNS.

“Whether it was hate or not, a 40-year-old adult smacking a kid is completely inappropriate,” she said, adding, “We should be able to send our boys to school without worry.”

The boy, who bikes to his yeshiva daily, was suddenly slapped in the face, Vita Fellig reported in JNS.

The NYPD confirmed the report of an alleged assault in front of 655 Parkside Avenue, between Nostrand and Rogers Avenues. “The victim refused medical attention,” they said. “No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.”

The mother explained that her son “was so scared he drove away as quickly as he could. We want justice to ensure our kids can walk safely.”

Rabbi Yisroel Eliashiv, a teacher at the boy’s yeshiva, said the student appeared unusually detached that morning, revealing his experience when prompted. “There’s outrage, of course, but also fatigue—‘here we go, another one,’” Eliashiv told JNS.

Eliashiv believes the attack was motivated by anti-Semitism, noting that visible Jews are often singled out.

The Anti-Defamation League called the attack “reprehensible,” adding, “Everyone—and especially children—should feel safe on Brooklyn’s streets.”

This incident follows four recorded incidents since last week, including a slashing attack on a Jewish man, a Jewish individual being aggressively knocked down, and a man who harassed customers at Kosher Cafe with antisemitic and anti-Israel slurs and a Jewish man in his 50s beaten by two teens. All the incidents involved black male perpetrators.