Baltimore rabbi pulls pistol on two assailants who tried to steal his car: report
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A 62-year-old rabbi turned the tables on two punks who allegedly beat him up while trying to steal his car when he pulled out a pistol on the assailants and sent them running for the hills, according to a report.
Rabbi Emanuel Goldfeiz was taking out the garbage near his car at his North Baltimore condo — still in his religious garb after temple services on Saturday — when two masked men ambushed the unsuspecting holy man at around 11 p.m., according to Fox Baltimore.
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'They just came up and punched him in the face,' Baltimore City Councilman Isaac 'Yitzy' Schliefer, who represents the district where Goldfeiz was assaulted, told the outlet.
3 Rabbi Emanuel Goldfeiz was taking out the garbage near his car at his North Baltimore condo when he was approached by the two masked men.
WBAL-TV 11 News
The two dopey suspects snatched the rabbi's car keys and attempted to drive off in the car — but they couldn't figure out how to start the vehicle, the outlet stated, citing the Baltimore Police Department.
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When the suspects walked back to the rabbi to continue their beatdown, they were in for a surprise — Rabbi Goldfeiz whipped out a pistol on the would-be carjacker, who hightailed it to parts unknown, according to cops.
The religious leader has a valid handgun permit for the weapon, cops said.
3 Baltimore City Councilman Isaac 'Yitzy' Schliefer says carjackings are up 20 percent year-to-year.
WBAL-TV 11 News
Goldfeiz is still dealing with the repercussions from the devastating sucker-punch that has fellow Jewish leaders in Baltimore concerned.
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'Unfortunately, he's hurt. He was punched very, very hard, and I'm wishing him a speedy recovery,' Rabbi Velvel Belinsky told News 11.
'When we hear about events like this, it's definitely very disturbing because safety is a very big concern for us,' Belinsky added.
3 Rabbi Velvel Belinsky says that safety is a big concern in the area.
WBAL-TV 11 News
Carjackings in the North Baltimore neighborhood are up 20% year-over-year, according to Councilman Schliefer — but the attempted theft of a holy man stands out as an emotional low point in the criminal trend.
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'Just the brazenness of the incident, where they have no problem going and attacking, you know, an older person, somebody clearly who's a person of faith,' Councilman Schliefer told News 11.
'He was still dressed in all of his attire coming from synagogue and so it's really very upsetting,' Schliefer added.
'What we see is that people feel emboldened to be committing these kind of violent acts and attacks against Jewish people, and that needs to stop,' the councilman told Fox Baltimore.
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