WASHINGTON — A Lyft driver is wanted after allegedly assaulting a rabbi in Northwest D.C. Sunday morning.
According to an incident report from the Metropolitan Police Department, Rabbi Menachem Shemtov requested a ride through the rideshare app, and the driver picked him up at the corner of Leroy Place Northwest and Connecticut Avenue Northwest. An argument happened between the two, resulting in the Lyft driver demanding that he exit his vehicle, according to DC Police.
The rabbi told WUSA9 when he got in the vehicle near his synagogue, he asked the driver to turn down the music. About 20 seconds later, he claimed the driver told him to leave and said, "I don't like your energy."
After getting out and starting to walk northbound on Connecticut Avenue Northwest, not too far from where he was picked up, the driver continued to follow Shemtov. He then yelled, "Why'd you slam my door?" multiple times, and soon after, punched the rabbi in the face, the report states.
"He came after me and he chased me," Shemtov told WUSA9. "I told him to get away from me. He punched me in my face and knocked out my kippah. It was totally unprovoked. Here I was getting attacked for my 'energy.'"
The Lyft driver then returned to the vehicle to leave, but Shemtov followed him in an attempt to stop him from leaving the area and take a photo of the car. The driver then punched him multiple times in the face, leaving scratches near his eye.
"He slashed me with his keys as well," he added.
Shemtov said he had just finished praying when he requested the rideshare. Although police said they haven't classified what happened as a bias or hate incident, Shemtov and other Jewish groups in the area believe otherwise.
"An assault on a rabbi is an assault on the Jewish community," Ron Halber of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington told WUSA9. "The fact that a rabbi has to worry about his safety taking a Lyft or Uber is a sad commentary on where we are today."
Halber said the recent assault is adding on to the concerns about the growing cases of antisemitic incidents in our area.
The Anti-Defamation League reports since October, there have been at least 3,200 antisemitic incidents in the country, a 361% increase compared to the same period a year earlier.
In a statement to WUSA9, a Lyft spokesperson said, "Lyft unequivocally condemns this behavior. Upon learning of this incident, we deactivated the driver and we've been in touch with the rider. We encourage riders and drivers to report harassment, discrimination, or safety concerns in the Lyft app."
Two people saw the assault. One woman was able to record what happened with her cellphone while walking on Connecticut Avenue Northwest. Another witness told police they saw the alternation while standing outside.
The driver left the scene in a red Toyota sedan bearing Maryland plate 3FR1602. Anyone who may have information is asked to call police at 202-727-9099.
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