It’s an open question as to which we are more forbidden to talk about, leftist anti-Semitism or Muslim anti-Semitism. Or this guy.

Jamal Oscar Williams, 44, is accused by state prosecutors in Washington state of hate crimes and criminal harassment against Schmuel Levitin, a rabbi, and Ephriam Block. According to court documents, Williams “maliciously and intentionally” followed, threatened to kill and assaulted the men in multiple attacks in October because of their perceived religion.

Levitin and Block were operating a permitted religious booth for the Sukkot Jewish holiday in downtown Seattle on October 11 when Williams allegedly approached them and shouted: “Jews, Jews, Jews … give me your money!” He then said he had a gun and was going to kill them. Both Levitin and Block have beards and payots, or sideburns, and were wearing yarmulkes. Levitin is a rabbi at the Chabad of Downtown Seattle.

Three days later, Williams returned and made similar threats and demands for money. On October 15, the next day, Williams allegedly followed the men into the lobby of their apartment building. After making more demands for money, he allegedly hurled candy from the concierge’s desk at the men. Police later found and arrested Williams in a nearby-area. He was unarmed at the time.

As Andy Ngo documents, Williams has a history of leftist activism with Antifa. There’s also domestic violence and more conventional criminal stuff. 

Leftist anti-Semitism, of course, has a long history. When I looked up Rabbi Levitin, I came across another Rabbi Levitin entirely.

The five rabbis who were arrested by the Soviet authorities in Nevel, near Mohilev, last month on charges of maintaining a secret Yeshiva, have now been told what their offense was, a despatch from Moscow relates.

The act of accusation charges them with being counter-revolutionists, plotting against the Soviet government and instigating the population and instructing minors in religion.

Their trial is to be held soon in Welikie-Luki, where they are held in prison.

The five rabbis, Rabbi Samuel Levitin, Rabbi Zevi Astronover, Rabbi Elijah Voltsholnik, Rabbi Salman Ussishkin and Rabbi Elchanan Maharak, were arrested after the Soviet authorities closed the leading Yeshiva in Soviet Russia at Nevel, established after the war with the aid of American Jews by Rabbi Jacob Joseph Schneursohn known as the Lubawitscher Rebbe. The Soviet authorities confiscated three synagogue buildings in the town on the suspicion that the Yeshiva was being conducted illegally in those buildings. One hundred Yeshiva-bocherim (Talmud students) were expelled from the town when the rabbis were arrested.

That’s a news story from 1929. Or, these days, perhaps New York 2019. Certainly if leftist groups like YAFFED and their teachers’ union pals have their way.

There’s a certain history to leftist anti-Semitism. And it never goes away.