University of Michigan rabbi held students at gunpoint after dinner

A masked gunman broke into the Southfield home of a rabbi who works with the University of Michigan community late Wednesday during a Jewish holiday meal for about 20 students, according to Southfield police and university officials.

The gunman fired no shots but displayed a gun inside the Southfield home, police said. No injuries were reported.

“The suspect was armed with a handgun and said, ‘I’ll take anything, give me anything,'” a news release from the Southfield Police Department said.

“The preliminary investigation suggests that this was a crime of opportunity. However, the investigation is ongoing.”

The news release said police have identified the suspect and are working to arrest him. They have already arrested another person who they believe was involved.

The attack occurred at the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and beginning of the High Holidays. It also came weeks after several Jewish students reported attacks on or near the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus.

In a statement Thursday, President Santa Ono said the university remains steadfast in its commitment to student safety.

“Last night, a group of Jewish students had gathered for dinner at the home of a local rabbi in Southfield when, shortly before 11 p.m., an armed individual entered through an open back door, stole a bag and fled,” the statement read in part.

“The past year has seen countless events locally and globally that have been overwhelming and troubling for many in our community. As tensions have escalated in the Middle East in recent days, it is more important than ever that we work together to provide comfort and security for one another.”

He encouraged anyone with information to contact Southfield police.

At the beginning of September, a Jewish student told police that he had been approached by a group of people. They asked if he was Jewish; When he confirmed this, he said they had attacked him. Days later, Ann Arbor police said someone beat a student on the porch of a home where students from a historic Jewish fraternity live. Later, a group returned and threw glass bottles at the house.

An Ann Arbor police spokesman said Thursday the investigation is ongoing.

Last week, Ono spoke out about the series of attacks against Jewish students. He also confirmed that the university found racist graffiti in a residence hall that “targeted our Black community.”

“As we begin the academic year, I want to make it unequivocally clear that racism, violence and hatred of any kind are inconsistent with our mission and values and we will not tolerate it. Fortunately, and while we alone cannot eradicate prejudice and violence, these “events are not the norm,” Ono said in Friday’s statement.

The previous attacks prompted Jewish students to put together a volunteer group to walk with students on campus.

The violence came after a year of protests on campus, largely linked to the ongoing war in Gaza. Demonstrations are expected on Monday, the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Israel.

Reach Dave Boucher at [email protected] and on X, formerly called Twitter, @Dave_Boucher1.

This story has been updated to add video.

University of Michigan rabbi held students at gunpoint after dinner

ByJasper

By Jasper

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