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Rollins: Civil rights units investigating if stabbing attack on rabbi was a hate crime

“It’s important that we recognize with respect to the Jewish community ... they are being terrorized and hate crime is on the rise."

DA Rachael Rollins addressed a crowd during a unity vigil on Brighton Common, across from Shaloh House, a Jewish Day school in Brighton. Rabbi Shlomo Noginski was stabbed multiple times Thursday outside the school. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

By Arianna MacNeill

July 2, 2021

2 minutes to read

Suspect identified after rabbi stabbed in Brighton

Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins says her civil rights team, as well as that of the Boston Police Department, is investigating the non-fatal stabbing of a rabbi in Brighton.

Khaled Awad, 24, of Brighton was arrested and charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a police officer in the Thursday attack near the Shaloh House Chabad Center. He is to be arraigned in Brighton District Court on Friday.

The victim, Rabbi Shlomo Noginski, serves as a rabbi and teacher at Shaloh House. Police responded to the reported stabbing around 1:19 p.m.

During her remarks at a vigil for Noginski Friday morning outside the Shaloh House, Rollins said her office would be requesting a dangerousness hearing for the suspect, and that she planned to attend the arraignment.

“This is a continued civil rights investigation; the Boston Police Department Civil Rights Unit as well as my civil rights unit are working hard on this,” she said. “We will be keeping the community apprised and we will let you know what happens after the arraignment moving forward.”

Rollins spoke of recent incidents involving anti-Semitism, including the shooting in Winthrop last Saturday that left two Black people dead – authorities reportedly found anti-Semitic language and symbols written by Nathan Allen, the suspect killed by police.

“It’s important that we recognize with respect to the Jewish community, that not only globally, but locally they are being terrorized and hate crime is on the rise,” Rollins said. “If we think about Boston, our Holocaust memorial has been desecrated twice.”

Flowers were left in front of the Shaloh House, a Jewish day school in Brighton. *– Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff*

Mayor Kim Janey said the attack “left a rabbi injured and a community shaken.”

“And I believe that an attack on any member of our community is an attack on us all,” she said.

She, too, mentioned the investigation into whether the incident is a hate crime.

“It is important that we understand what the motives of this hate, of this violence are,” she said. “An investigation is underway to determine whether this is a hate crime or not, and we will get the answers we seek.”

A unity vigil was organized on Brighton Common, across from Shaloh House, a Jewish Day school in Brighton. Rabbi Shlomo Noginski was stabbed multiple times Thursday outside the school. *– Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff*

Watch the full vigil:

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