Israeli tourist punched by stranger who ripped off his yarmulke in NYC: cops

By Larry Celona, Joe Marino, and Amanda Woods

The New York Post

An Israeli tourist with ties to the IDF was left with a brain bleed early this week when a hate-filled stranger knocked off his yarmulke and slugged him in the face on the way to a Manhattan kosher deli, police officers said.

Rami Glikstein, 59, who was visiting from Jerusalem, was heading to Mr. Broadway – a well-known kosher deli on West 38th Street near Seventh Avenue – around 12:40 p.m. when a complete stranger stormed up to him and snarled, “What the f–k is your religion?”, according to police sources and the victim’s own Facebook post.

The antisemitic attacker – who wore all black – grabbed Glikstein’s yarmulke, tossed it on the ground and stepped on it before walking away, police officers and sources said. 

But the maniac wasn’t done – moments later, he turned around and punched Glikstein in the face, sending him flying to the ground, police officers said. Glikstein was later treated at a hospital for his injuries.

Mayor Eric Adams condemned Monday’s incident, stating, “Attacking someone for their faith, or for wearing a kippah, has no place in our city. We will find this coward.”

Community leaders called for increased patrols in Jewish-heavy areas. “This wasn’t random,” said Rabbi Yaakov Spivak of the Manhattan Jewish Council. “It was deliberate humiliation followed by violence.”

Surveillance footage from nearby businesses has been obtained, and police urge witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

First published Oct. 28, 2025