A Muslim man came to the defense of Jews under attack in the New York subway last Friday.
NEW YORK (CNN) — A Muslim man jumped to the aid of three Jewish subway riders after they were attacked by a group of young people who objected to one of the Jews saying “Happy Hanukkah,” a spokeswoman for the three said Wednesday.
Friday’s altercation on the Q train began when somebody yelled out “Merry Christmas,” to which rider Walter Adler responded, “Happy Hanukkah,” said Toba Hellerstein.
“Almost immediately, you see the look in this guy’s face like I’ve called his mother something,” Adler told CNN affiliate WABC.
Two women who were with a group of 10 rowdy people then began to verbally assault Adler’s companions with anti-Semitic language, Hellerstein said.
One member of the group allegedly yelled, “Oh, Hanukkah. That’s the day that the Jews killed Jesus,” she said.
When Adler tried to intercede, a male member of the group punched him, she said.
Another passenger, Hassan Askari — a Muslim student from Bangladesh — came to Adler’s aid, and the group began physically and verbally assaulting him, Hellerstein said.
Now this is the kind of story that gives me hope. Thank you, Hassan Askari. You’re a mensch
A ray of hope. I bet he gets ostracized now.
I would love to think he doesn’t. But there’s probably already a fatwa out on him by now.
I bet he gets ostracized now. I would love to think he doesn’t. But there’s probably already a fatwa out on him by now.
What a stupid comment. Every Muslim I know is proud of him.
Great job.
I would feel blessed if someone said “Happy Hanukah” to me in response to me saying “Merry Christmas” to them.
Meryl,He’s a mensch.And an American.God bless him
If only it would be the same here in England.
I bet he gets ostracized now. I would love to think he doesn’t. But there’s probably already a fatwa out on him by now.
What a stupid comment. Every Muslim I know is proud of him.
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Not a stupid comment at all. If EVERY Muslim cared for peace and followed their own preachings it would be stupid.
The fact that there’s a significant population of Muslims in this world that DON’T do so, and call for Fatwa’s over almost ANY perceived slight to Islam makes it what I MEANT it to be.
A BITING comment on the reality of being a Muslim in todays world. A world where in some countries what that man did would be considered a CRIME. And if he had stopped Muslims from beating a Jew he would have most CERTAINLY of been killed.