Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, one of the most prominent and well-known rabbis in the US, was attacked Wednesday night in Times Square in New York by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The incident occurred while the rabbi was sitting with his son, IDF soldier Mendy, watching the New York Knicks' historic victory.
According to the rabbi, a group of protesters verbally assaulted him and his son, cursing and abusing them. Boteach, who did not remain passive, turned on his camera, confronted the assailants and documented the moments in which they chanted "Free Palestine" and shouted abuse.
"My hero IDF son and I were simply sitting and watching the Knicks in Times Square when we were brutally attacked by antisemites," the rabbi wrote on his X account. "Becoming impossible to be Jewish in Mamdani's New York. Where are the police?"
Was sitting peacefully in @TimesSquare watching @Knicks when "Free Palestine" Thugs attacked me and my son. I turned on camera and asked them why? Watch… - 2 pic.twitter.com/AhMLu45RKN
— Rabbi Shmuley (@RabbiShmuley) June 11, 2026
The rabbi also posted a photo of himself and his son sitting in Times Square, along with a video showing the verbal confrontation with the group. In the video, Boteach is heard addressing the protesters as they try to flee the scene: "Wait, guys, wait, why are you running away?" Suddenly, the violent group turned around and began hurling curses at the rabbi and his son. Members of the group were heard saying one after another: "Go to hell. Free Palestine. F*** the Jews."
After the confrontation, the rabbi watched with his son and several other residents in the middle of the street as the New York Knicks secured a dramatic and historic victory over the San Antonio Spurs overnight, and afterward went out to celebrate. At several celebration sites, pro-Palestinian rioters vandalized taxis and waved flags while screaming "Free Palestine." In response, the rabbi added in a post on X: "You all saw the 'Free Palestine' animals who attacked me and my IDF hero son Mendy. This is what these thugs did in New York tonight. Where are the cops?"
