A University of Michigan Rabbi and 20 students were held at gunpoint when a gunman broke into his home during a holiday dinner during the beginning of Rosh Hashanah.
“I’m taking everything, give me everything,” the gunman reportedly said while wielding a handgun.
No shots were fired, and the occupants of the house escaped through a front door – while the thief made off with little more than a single bag, according to the Detroit News.
The suspect believed to be a black man in his early 20s, has not been caught.
“The preliminary investigation indicates this was a crime of opportunity,” Southfield Police said in a statement. “However, the investigation is ongoing.”
A woman believed to be an accomplice has been taken into custody.
“A horrific event occurred late Wednesday night at the home of Rabbi Mendy Klahr,” university president Santa Ono said in a statement, explaining the rabbi’s home is 40 minutes from campus.
“Fortunately nobody was hurt.”
“I have spoken directly with students on the scene and some parents as well. Although we are grateful that the Rabbi, his family and our students are safe, we take the safety of our students very seriously,” Ono said, adding that the school would be enhancing security at Jewish centers on campus through the holiday weekend, and next week during Yom Kippur.
The University of Michigan has been dogged by reports of violence against Jewish students in recent days.
At the end of September, two Jewish students reported being assaulted after an argument with someone outside an off-campus home of Jewish fraternity members.
The argument escalated, and one of the Jewish students was punched.
Early the next day, a “group returned and threw glass bottles at the house,” Ono said in a statement.
Days earlier, another Jewish student reported being assaulted.
Those incidents and the tense climate on campuses across the country in the year since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel have left Jewish students on edge.
Some have started organizing a “Shmira” – Hebrew for guardian – to put their minds at ease, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The plan is to recruit up to 100 students to accompany Jewish students around campus who might feel in danger.
“It’s honestly sad that we’re at this point where we have students who feel unsafe walking around on campus and we have to take these measures,” said 22-year-old master’s student Leo Gabaron, who is spearheading the effort.
“But we just want the Jewish community to know that there are people here for you, we’re all here for you, and there’s no reason for students to not feel safe,” he added.
