London – An Orthodox man from Golders Green yesterday spoke of his determination to continue living an openly Jewish life after he was viciously beaten and left with blood pouring from his face, in one of the most serious incidents of an unprecedented wave of anti-Semitism afflicting Britain.
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Wearing a kippah and his long Shabbat coat, Michael Bookarz was walking home from La Fiesta restaurant on Golders Green Road on Saturday night when he was set upon by two hooded attackers. “I was walking towards the A406 at about 10.20pm when I noticed a guy was walking towards me,” the 31-year-old told TJ.
“He suddenly started running and punched me in the face. When I was on the ground, another person ran over and they both started kicking me and stamping on my body and head.
“One of them said this is because of what’s happened to the Palestinians in Gaza. Someone must have looked out the window because they suddenly just ran off leaving me on the floor.
“I was scared but the main thought running through my head as it was happening was self-preservation and defending myself. The second the attack finished my next thought was to get help. I took my phone out to dial 999 and I could see blood covering the screen of the phone – there was blood pouring down from my nose.”
The software developer – who suffered extensive bruising and swelling – was taken to hospital where he spent several hours undergoing X-Rays of his skull and left hand. On doctors orders, he spent the past few days recuperating before returning to work yesterday, despite still suffering pain.
“One of the things I feel very sad about is that I can’t walk around in England safely,” he said. “This morning when I was walking to shul I saw a guy across the road with a cap on and a scarf over his face. It was a cold morning but I looked twice just to make sure he wasn’t dangerous. I wouldn’t have done that a few days ago.”
But Michael is nevertheless determined to try to ensure that the attack does not affect the way he lives his life and he urged others not to shy away from wearing kippot in public. He said: “I want to continue leading my life as a Jew in this country, I want to lead it as a free person. I’m not going to let them win.”
The attack on Michael was one of three assaults in recent days, contributing to the more than 220 anti-Semitic incidents in Britain since the start of Israel’s anti-terror operation in Gaza in late December. That includes at least 12 incidents of daubings at London synagogues and in Jewish neighbourhoods on Thursday and Friday last week.
The CST’s Mark Gardner said: “It is likely that the end of the conflict in Gaza will calm the situation here in Britain, but we have seen a dreadful outpouring of anti-Semitic rage, and this will certainly not disappear overnight.”
Thanks Britain that gun control is in full swing over the last eighty years. That way no one can defend himself. Baruch hashem I live in US.
BS”D
Refuah Shelaima!
G-d willing, these 2 rashaim will pay!
It’s getting worse. We left there 25 years ago after my husband was beaten up sitting in his car at a red light, simply because he’s a Jew. The cops said it was my husband’s fault. Well, he has a beard, tzitzis, a yarmulke…OF COURSE he provoked them.
Best thing…my husband was prosecuted (found not guilty, but still!!!). That’s the wonderful British for you. We live in New York now.
Mr. Bookarz, Refuah Shleimah. Hope they hang the scum, but IF the cops catch him, he’ll get a medal.
BS”D
To: Today at 04:35 PM Anonymous Says.
Sorry your husband was beaten up. If police said what hey did I hope they get a severe punishment; death!
Organize a JDL style group and beat these terrorists into the ground! Turn them into dung! Break all their bones! Kill them!
Eloquim, strike them with lightening!
You think you are safe in the USA?
The antisemitism in the States may be considered so much more dangerous. Your “friends” and neighbours love us (or should I say tolerate us) to your faces but HATE us as much as any other Jewish person.
At least when I lived in England I knew where I stood, they hate us to our faces and we knew it.
If you think that you are about to be attacked, take out a legal object, like a ballpoint pen, and rapidly stab the attcker in the eyes and throat. We have the same bodies and hands and koyach as the goy. Why are we so unused to being physical and defending ourselves? Ich veiss, ich veiss: Hakohl kohl ya’akov, ve’hayodayim y’dey eysov. I don’t mind being called a sheygetz if it means that the goy is the one in the hospital bed. Yidden–learn to react quickly instead of thinking too much. You have to talk to the goyim bil’shonom–in their language.
Refuah Shelaima Bimhaira
there is NO safe place in the entire world. israel is the place for all jews. everyone should pack up their bags and run to israel without turning back. at least we know that this is our country. dont fool yrself in thinking that we are safe here in the US.