Monday, August 11, 2014
*Jewish Community Demands Honest Answers to Rabbi’s Murder*
As the body of Rabbi Yosef Raksin was laid to rest on Monday, leaders in
the Jewish community expressed commitment to seeing absolute justice
served. Rabbi Raksin was murdered by two black teens as he walked in broad
daylight to morning services at a North Miami Beach synagogue. He was
visiting Miami from New York and was staying with his daughter and
grandchildren.
At funeral processions in Miami and Brooklyn, mourners expressed dismay
that the Miami-Dade Police Department was so quick to downplay the
probability of anti-Semitism. Eyewitnesses confirmed there was no
altercation to suggest this was a robbery gone bad. Some have cited a
“Crime by Time” study by Rutgers University professors showing that only 2%
of robberies happen between 9 and 10 am when Yosef was killed, leaving a
98% chance for an ulterior motive. (
http://forprin.dev.zoe.co.nz/files/pdf/Felson_and_Poulsen,_Simple.pdf)
Two weeks ago, swastikas were found spray painted on a synagogue near where
Yosef was murdered. As anti-Israel and anti-Jewish violence sweeps across
cities in Europe, many Jews see other alarming resemblances to
pre-Holocaust Germany.
*New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind released the following statement:*
*With everything that’s going on in the world–with the obvious and
documented increase in anti-Semitic incidents–there is naturally great
concern in the community regarding the tragic murder of Rabbi Joseph
Raksin. Â I share this concern. This certainly could be more than a simple
robbery and we shouldn’t be hasty to dismiss the likelihood that this
murder was indeed a hate crime until there is hard police evidence to the
contrary. Rabbi Raksin was clearly identifiable as a Jew–as
a religious Jew–when he was shot and killed. We ask that no one reach any
conclusions until there is conclusive proof. Â [DovHikind.com]*
*Barry Sugar, director of the New York-based Jewish Leadership Council
released the following statement:*
*There are those who are quick to dismiss the possibility of an anti-Jewish
motive. In this case, it is difficult to believe that Yosef’s prayer shawl,
white beard and black coat had absolutely no influence on his murderers.
The headlines all stress that Yosef was a rabbi walking to synagogue
prayers. Who he was and where he was headed are what make his story
newsworthy.*
*We are very proud of our people’s peaceful contribution to societies
throughout history. We are also very aware of the persecution we’ve
suffered in each of those times and places and we’ll stand up proudly to
protect our rights in this great country of freedom.*
*The least we can do for a murdered man and a mourning family is to follow
the facts until the murderers are caught and the true motive established.*