Buenos Aires – The chief rabbi of Buenos Aires was brutally assaulted by a gang of people who entered his home before dawn on Monday.
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The attackers broke into the apartment in the Jewish neighborhood in Once in Buenos Aires at around 2 a.m. shouting: “We know that you are the AMIA (Jewish center) rabbi,” and then beat him.
Rabbi Gabriel Davidovich was hospitalized with serious injuries, including nine broken ribs, according to Jewish political umbrella DAIA President Jorge Knoblovits.
His wife was home at the time of the incident. The attackers restrained her and stole money and belongings from the apartment.
The attack was a “brutal anti-Semitic aggression,” DAIA said in a statement issued on Monday night. The statement, signed by Knoblovits said that the attack “is framed on the anti-Semitic events that are taking place in different European countries, which threaten coexistence and democratic values.”
A statement issued by AMIA condemns the attack but does not specifically call it anti-Semitic.
“The World Jewish Congress is shocked and incensed by the brutal attack” WJC CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer said Monday. “It is not yet clear whether this was a targeted crime of hateful anti-Semitism or a barbaric criminal act, but we trust that the authorities will continue to do everything in their power to determine the motive and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement issued on Tuesday morning in Israel sent wishes for a quick recovery to the rabbi and his wife. “We must not let anti-Semitism rear its head. I strongly condemn the recent acts of anti-Semitism and call on the international community to take action against it,” Netanyahu said.
“Today the leaders of the world in Europe, in South America, all over are failing in their responsibility to learn the lessons of the past. But unlike the past, today we have Israel, and every Jew around the world must know they have a home here; we are waiting,” Diaspora Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.
“But for Jews who want to live in Argentina, or France, or England, or the US or anywhere, we are also here. We will stand up against Antisemitism. A strong Israel is the only answer – our enemies should know, Jewish blood is not cheap,” he added.
“We must relentlessly fight this disgusting hatred,” Jewish Agency chairman Isaac Herzog said. “The Jewish Agency together with the Government of Israel and other Jewish organizations will embark on a battle against the alarming rise of anti-Semitism across the globe.”
Davidovich has served as chief rabbi since 2013. The office of the rabbinate is located in the AMIA building in Buenos Aires.
May Hashem speed up our Geulah, B’Ahava…
A consequence of all the fake news put out by Muslims and Antisemites, including Israel’s right to exist, BDS, the stolen Palestinian state etc etc
Argentina was the home of Adolph Eichmann, and other high ranking Nazis for many years. The JCC in Argentina was bombed in 1994, causing a high loss of life. When Eichmann was hanged in 1962, there was retaliation against the Jews there and all over Latin America, by his supporters.
unfortunately this can happen in Israel and the US, both countries with weak liberal laws that protect criminals over people, interesting thing is, in Russian where Putin the philo Semite rules there is hardly any attacks since the criminals don’t want to end up for 10 years in the Arctic circle chopping wood in -30 degree weather.
A consequence of trumpf’s overt support of alt-white nazis and conspiracy gangs and websites. Ask Aleck Jones and Sloppy Steve Bannon…
First, a Refuah Shalaimah to the rabbi.
Second- The AMIA ( the Jewish organization / building where works ) condemns the attack, but doesn’t say it’s AntiSemitic ? Why do Jews always have to bury their/our heads in the sand ?
We must stand up for whats right- Fight injustice ! Acknowledge and fight AntiSemitism for what it is !!
Fact: If this happened to some Muslim cleric, lehavdil, all hell would break loose!