UM student attacked after being asked if he was Jewish, stirs up Ann Arbor community

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (FOX 2) – Ann Arbor police have launched an investigation after two Jewish students say they were attacked on campus. Police say they are working with University of Michigan police, campus officials and Jewish organizations.

This is the second time in two weeks that there have been reports of attacks on Jewish students on the University of Michigan campus.

“No Jewish student should have to deal with this alone, and they don’t,” Rabbi Davey Rosen said. “We’re here for them. We have a great team at Hillel to support them, we have a lot of students who are here for them.”

Police said that on September 15, a 19-year-old student was walking along Hill Street and South Forest when a group of men approached him, asked him if he was Jewish and then attacked him.

Police have declined to describe the attack as a hate crime, claiming they need more information before they can begin their investigation.

The latest incident occurred this weekend outside a Jewish fraternity house on East University Avenue, where someone reportedly threw a bottle at the house.

Rabbi Rosen is the president of the Campus Hillel Center, which provides a space where Jewish students can celebrate their faith.

“We have over 6,500 undergraduate Jewish students on our campus, and about 15% of them are Jewish,” he said.

On Monday, the rabbi met with the president of the University of Michigan to discuss the situation of rising anti-Semitism on campus.

“He understands that deeply and he understands it even more in this moment, because there’s been an attack, it can’t continue,” Rosen said. “And they’re taking it as seriously as anyone can.”

The latest incident occurred this weekend outside a Jewish fraternity house on East University Avenue.

“Some students find a way to put it out of their minds. There are students who are scared and anxious,” Rosen says. “There are parents who are scared and anxious.

“It’s a really hard time for a Jewish student to worry about just being themselves.”

Ann Arbor police are working hand in hand with campus police to find those responsible.

Rosen advised Jewish students to take precautions.

“We make sure people have walking buddies, we offer Uber codes, we let students know that the university itself has a lot of resources,” he said. “Sometimes people don’t know (to use them). Use the resources — you can ride all night.”