Alleged assault at train station
"As our students are visibly Jewish, the school will endeavour to get professional awareness and safety training on how the students should deal with these situations."
Two Yesodei HaTorah College high school students were allegedly attacked at Caulfield train station on Sunday, according to an email to parents.
The email from deputy menahel Rabbi Yosi Fromer on September 1 stated, “An incident took place today with two of our high school students where one was punched in the face after unprovoked antisemitic slurs directed at them.
“As our students are visibly Jewish, the school will endeavour to get professional awareness and safety training on how the students should deal with these situations.”
No medical assistance was required.
Yesodei HaTorah’s interim educational director Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler told The AJN on behalf of the school, “We are very upset that two of our students were verbally and physically accosted and assaulted, unprovoked, whilst going about their business on a Sunday afternoon in a public space here in Melbourne.
“Victoria Police have been informed. We would like to thank the CSG for their support and proactive approach in ensuring that the issue is being dealt with appropriately, and for working with the relevant authorities to ensure that issues like this don’t continue to happen in the future.”
Victoria Police said it is investigating.
Senior Sergeant Alasdair Farrell, commander of Caulfield Police Station, told The AJN, “It is understood a 15-year-old boy was approached by a group of youths on Sir John Monash Drive about 1.45pm. Police were told one of the male offenders assaulted the boy whilst another member of the group filmed the incident.
“The boy sustained minor injuries which did not require hospital treatment. The group fled the scene on foot.”
The father of one of the boys told The AJN, “A group of Middle Eastern-looking teenagers threw antisemitic slurs, including ‘f***ing Jews’. Two of them followed the boys and one punched my son in the face while another filmed it. My son had a bruised jaw and bleeding in his mouth. They approached two people for assistance but they didn’t help.”
CSG said the assault was reported to them after it occurred and that they are providing support to those involved.
CEO Justin Kagan commented, “This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of reporting antisemitic incidents to CSG. In a live incident, we urge the community to call 000 then report to the CSG.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
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