An Israeli tourist experienced a sudden and violent attack on a bustling Midtown street in New York City this week.
Rami Glikstein, a 59-year-old rabbi from Jerusalem, was sucker punched by a stranger on his way to a kosher deli in Manhattan. According to The New York Post, the assailant first accosted Glikstein and demanded to know his religion, before proceeding to violently remove Glikstein's yarmulke, throw it to the ground, and then to abruptly punch him in the face.
The unexpected altercation left Glikstein, who is also an Israeli Defense Forces educator, with facial cuts, bruising, and internal bleeding in the brain. The victim was quickly transported to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Despite the severity of the attack, Glikstein expressed a resilient determination to not let the aggression deter him from experiencing New York City. In a statement obtained by ABC7 New York, Glikstein affirmed, "I will come back. I am not afraid," emphasizing his wish to return to the city despite the harrowing incident.
The attack took place in broad daylight around 12:40 p.m. near Seventh Avenue, a stone's throw away from the famed Times Square. The assailant, after committing the act, left the scene without being apprehended. As of the latest updates, no arrests have been made. Though the investigation by local authorities continues, Glikstein remains steadfast, conveying that his experience will not tarnish his view of New York and its inhabitants; "Most all the people in New York are very good people," Glikstein told ABC7 New York.
