Borough Park Resident Arrested for Making Anti-Semitic Threats During Yom Kippur

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a deeply unsettling incident in Brooklyn’s Borough Park neighborhood, a predominantly Jewish community, a local resident was arrested early Saturday morning after reportedly making violent and anti-Semitic threats. According to a report on the Vois Es Nais web site, the arrest comes during a period of heightened tension and concern about the growing number of hate crimes in New York City, particularly against the Jewish community.

According to police, 31-year-old Muhammad Hashim was detained after he allegedly hurled threatening and anti-Semitic slurs at a 43-year-old Jewish man on Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar. The information provided in the VIN report indicated that as Hashim drove through the neighborhood, he is alleged to have shouted, “I’m gonna kill you ….. Jews,” escalating what was already a highly charged atmosphere due to the sacred nature of the day.

What intensified the fear and chaos in this case was not just the verbal assault, but the dangerous manner in which Hashim reportedly operated his vehicle. Witnesses say that at one point, Hashim drove onto the sidewalk, a reckless action that heightened the danger to pedestrians and stoked greater alarm in the community, as was explained in the VIN report.  Although there were no immediate injuries reported, the behavior described was deeply concerning, especially given its context during Yom Kippur, a day of fasting, prayer, and reflection.

Muhammad Hashim now faces multiple serious charges, reflecting the severity of the incident. The charges include aggravated harassment as a hate crime, aggravated harassment based on religion or race, and reckless endangerment. The VIN report further stated that each of these charges underscores the gravity of the situation, particularly in light of the ongoing issue of anti-Semitism that has plagued various parts of New York City. In addition to these primary charges, police have also charged Hashim with false personation after he allegedly provided incorrect personal details during his arrest—a common tactic used to obstruct law enforcement investigations.

The arrest itself was facilitated through the efforts of Shmira Public Safety, a local volunteer patrol organization that focuses on protecting the Borough Park community. After receiving reports of the alleged harassment, Shmira patrol units arrived at the scene, documenting Hashim’s vehicle with photographs and video evidence. The VIN report indicated that Shmira’s footage appears to capture aggressive driving, which includes an alleged attempt to hit a pedestrian, though no formal charges have been brought in connection to this specific claim. However, the NYPD acknowledged the significance of the evidence collected by Shmira in their subsequent actions.

After briefly leaving the area, Hashim returned shortly thereafter, prompting Shmira patrol units to track his movements while coordinating with the New York Police Department (NYPD). Around 12:20 a.m., police detained him near New Utrecht Avenue and 50th Street, bringing an end to a tense few hours for the neighborhood, according to the VIN report.

This incident is not isolated but part of a broader, disturbing trend of rising anti-Semitism in New York City. In recent years, the city has seen a sharp increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes, a fact confirmed by NYPD data released just last week. The report reveals a significant year-on-year increase in reported anti-Semitic incidents, particularly following recent escalations in violence between Israel and Gaza, which often coincides with a spike in local tensions and hostilities.

Jewish communities in New York, particularly in areas such as Borough Park, Flatbush, Crown Heights, and Williamsburg, have long been vulnerable to such attacks, but the frequency and intensity have become even more pronounced in recent months. The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force has had to devote increasing resources to investigating and responding to these incidents, a clear indication of the troubling direction in which these issues are heading.

The rising tide of anti-Semitism is not confined to violent attacks but also includes a disturbing trend of vandalism, verbal harassment, and threats that target Jewish individuals, institutions, and symbols. Synagogues, Jewish schools, and other community centers have been on high alert, especially around major Jewish holidays such as Yom Kippur, when these communities gather in large numbers.

The arrest of Muhammad Hashim highlights broader concerns regarding public safety, hate crimes, and the fragility of communal harmony in a city as diverse as New York. It calls attention to the role of local organizations such as Shmira in stepping up to protect vulnerable populations in the absence of an immediate police presence, although their efforts also reflect the underlying fear many community members feel about their safety.

This case, and others like it, also point to the need for a comprehensive and more effective response to the rise of hate-fueled violence. The connection between global events, such as the conflict in the Middle East, and local acts of anti-Semitism is becoming increasingly apparent. As violence erupts abroad, many Jewish communities in the U.S. find themselves bearing the brunt of misplaced anger and hostility, a pattern that calls for urgent action from local and national leaders.