By: Fern Sidman

Venice, long celebrated as a city of art, tolerance, and cultural exchange, has been shaken by a brutal antisemitic attack that has left both locals and international observers deeply alarmed. According to a report on Thursday at VIN News, an American Orthodox Jewish couple was violently assaulted in the city’s historic center over the weekend, underscoring a troubling pattern of hostility toward Jews in one of Europe’s most iconic tourist destinations.

The incident occurred shortly after midnight between September 7 and 8, when the couple—an American man and his Israeli-born wife—were set upon by a group of roughly a dozen men believed to be of North African origin. The attackers reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” as they pursued the visibly Jewish couple through Venice’s narrow streets.

The assault escalated with shocking ferocity. VIN News reported that one assailant unleashed a Rottweiler on the couple, while another physically struck the man. A glass bottle was then hurled at the woman, shattering near her and injuring her ankle. The combined terror of the physical violence, the dog attack, and the antisemitic slogans left the victims traumatized and required medical care for the woman’s injuries.

Authorities moved quickly, aided by surveillance footage, to track down several of the alleged perpetrators. Three suspects were apprehended: a Tunisian man, charged with assault, has been barred from returning to Venice for two years; another undocumented attacker has been sent to a repatriation center in Bari to be deported to Tunisia. Yet, the VIN News report emphasized that not all of the suspects have been apprehended, and some remain at large, raising concerns among Jewish residents and tourists alike.

The attack prompted immediate and emphatic condemnations from Venice’s leadership. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro denounced the violence as “a serious and unacceptable act,” reaffirming Venice’s identity as “an open, welcoming, and safe city, where mutual respect is the foundation of civil coexistence.” Brugnaro praised the swift response of law enforcement, whose rapid identification of the suspects he said demonstrated the city’s determination to safeguard its reputation and its residents.

The Jewish Community of Venice, meanwhile, expressed its outrage in a strongly worded statement carried by VIN News, calling the assault a “cowardly and despicable act.” The community noted that such violence strikes at the very heart of Venice’s long-standing tradition as a city that embraces diversity and coexistence. The attack was also particularly painful, the statement emphasized, given Venice’s historical significance to Jews: the Venetian Ghetto, established in 1516, is one of the oldest in Europe and has long stood as both a symbol of Jewish resilience and a reminder of Europe’s troubled history of antisemitism.

Alarmingly, this is not the first such attack to take place in Venice in recent weeks. VIN News reported that in August, another American Jewish couple was assaulted in the Rialto area under similarly antisemitic circumstances. That incident, while less violent, raised early concerns about rising hostility toward Jewish visitors in the lagoon city. The latest attack, involving a larger group of assailants and more severe violence, appears to confirm fears that antisemitic incidents in Venice are growing in frequency and intensity.

For many in the Jewish community, these events echo broader trends across Europe. Antisemitic acts, ranging from verbal harassment to outright physical assaults, have been on the rise, fueled by tensions in the Middle East, the spread of extremist ideologies, and the exploitation of slogans like “Free Palestine” as pretexts for targeting Jews. VIN News has consistently documented similar patterns in other European cities, underscoring the regional scope of the crisis.

The setting of the attacks—Venice—adds particular poignancy. Known globally as a crossroads of cultures, trade, and ideas, Venice has prided itself for centuries on its cosmopolitan character. The Jewish Ghetto, while born of segregation, has become a cherished historical district and a testament to Jewish contribution to Venetian life. That such a violent act could occur here has shaken not only Jews but Venetians at large, many of whom view tolerance as integral to the city’s identity.

The Jewish Community of Venice stressed this point in its statement, as noted in the VIN News report, reminding residents and visitors alike that Jewish life is deeply woven into Venice’s history and culture. To see Jews attacked so brazenly in the very streets where their ancestors persevered through centuries of exclusion and prejudice is a painful reminder of how fragile coexistence can be.

Local police, working with surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts, have committed to pursuing all those involved in the assault. The rapid apprehension of several suspects has been praised, but VIN News emphasized that the Jewish community is urging law enforcement to ensure that those still at large are swiftly identified and brought to justice.

Authorities have also appealed to the public for assistance, asking anyone with further information to come forward. Given the size of the group of attackers, officials believe additional arrests are likely.

The attack on the American Orthodox couple raises pressing questions about the safety of Jewish residents and tourists in Venice and beyond. For American Jews, incidents like these complicate the perception of Europe as a safe destination. For Israelis, the attack is part of a larger pattern of hostility abroad that intertwines criticism of Israel with dangerous antisemitic violence.

VIN News highlighted growing concerns that European authorities, while quick to condemn, often fail to confront the deeper ideological drivers of such attacks. While deportations and bans may address immediate perpetrators, there is a need, Jewish leaders argue, for greater education, stronger security measures, and a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitic hate.

Despite the fear and anger sparked by the attack, Venice’s Jewish community remains determined to uphold its presence and traditions. Community leaders have pledged to work with city officials to strengthen protections for Jewish residents and visitors. Synagogues and cultural institutions in the Ghetto have increased their security measures, while outreach programs continue to educate Venetians and tourists about the city’s Jewish heritage.

Mayor Brugnaro’s strong stance, coupled with the outcry from Jewish leaders, suggests that Venice is keen to preserve its image as a safe and tolerant city. Yet, as the VIN News report underscored, it will take more than words to restore a sense of security for Jews in Venice.

The antisemitic assault on an American Orthodox Jewish couple in Venice marks a dark moment in the city’s recent history. It has rattled the Jewish community, raised alarm about growing hostility, and tested Venice’s commitment to its values of openness and coexistence.

Venice’s swift response offers some reassurance, but the road ahead will require vigilance, justice, and a renewed commitment to ensuring that the city remains a place where Jews—and all people—can walk its storied streets without fear.