Zhitomir – A Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi who serves
as an emissary for the movement was brutally attacked early Friday morning at
the central train station in Zhitomir, Ukraine.
Rabbi Mendel Deitsch was found
unconscious and was immediately transported to a local hospital in what was
described as “extremely critical condition.”
Initial reports suggest that Deitsch
was robbed, viciously attacked and left bleeding in the train station until he
was discovered at around 11:00 am local time.
Deitsch, an Israeli citizen, directs
hospitality services and programming at the burial site of the founder of the
Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, located in the
Ukrainian village of Haditch. He has previously served Jewish communities in
France and Israel, and, according to the report, has been instrumental in
aiding Jews of the former Soviet Union. He is believed to have been in Haditch
at the gravesite over Rosh Hashanah.
The motive for the attack remains
unknown. According to the report, violent antisemitic attacks in Ukraine are
rare, and there is no indication at this time that the assault was antisemitic
in nature.
Two doctors have reportedly been
brought in from the Ukrainian capital of Kiev to the Zhitomir hospital where
Deitsch is currently undergoing an operation.
Zhitomir’s Chief Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm
is said to be with Deitsch in the hospital and is overseeing his care.
“The
most important thing at this time,” stated Wilhelm, “is that people pray for
[Deitsch’s] full recovery.”
