Zhitomer Again the Site of Violence Directed Against Jewish Community

Rabbi Nochum and Brocha Tamarin, co-directors of Chabad-Lubavitch of Small Communities of Ukraine, were physically attacked late Monday night just a short distance from the Chabad synagogue in Zhitomer.

The incident follows an attempted attack on Rabbi Shlomo Willhelm, co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Zhitomer and the city's chief rabbi, by an unidentified group of youth.

In a second incident before this latest attack, several unidentified perpetrators attempted to break in to the Jewish girls' dormitories in the city. While community staff prevented them from entering the building, the youth screamed anti-Semitic slogans and insults, and even tried to punch one of the girls.

The community has turned in the past to officials to take an aggressive stance to rid Zhitomer of anti-Semitic violence.

While the search continues for the Tamarins' assailants, the community and local authorities are seeing the crimes as part of a greater picture of Ukrainian anti-Semitism.