The death of a Jewish man during dueling Israel-Hamas war protests in Thousand Oaks, California has raised safety concerns in the local Jewish community. The incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime, although conflicting witness statements have made it difficult to determine the exact cause of the man’s fall. The synagogue has received an outpouring of support from Muslim and Christian leaders, as well as government officials. Local investigators are still piecing together what happened and have urged anyone with information to come forward. The incident comes amid rising fears of hate-motivated attacks in Jewish, Muslim, and Palestinian communities since the conflict in the Middle East began last month. Elizabeth Wolfe reported
The congregation of Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks, California is experiencing shock and grief after one of their longtime members, Paul Kessler, died during dueling Israel-Hamas war protests over the weekend. Kessler, a 69-year-old Jewish man who supported Israel, fell and fatally struck his head during an altercation with a pro-Palestinian protester. The incident has been ruled a homicide, but investigators have yet to determine whether it was a hate crime or another criminal offense due to conflicting witness statements.
The death of Kessler has raised safety concerns within the Jewish community in Thousand Oaks. Rabbi Ari Averbach, the senior rabbi of Temple Etz Chaim, expressed sadness over the loss and addressed the worries about safety during a vigil. He also mentioned that the synagogue has received an outpouring of support from Muslim and Christian community leaders, as well as government officials from all levels and political parties.
Investigators are still working to gather evidence about the altercation and Kessler’s fall. They have urged anyone with video footage, photos, or witness accounts to come forward. The suspect, a 50-year-old man from Moorpark, was interviewed by deputies at the scene, and his home was searched. However, no arrest has been made yet.
Kessler and his wife had been long-standing members of the synagogue since the 1990s. The rabbi described him as a non-troublemaking individual, and the family is in shock and confusion over the incident. Kessler had attended the protest with a neighbor, joining the wave of demonstrations across the United States either supporting Israel or protesting its retaliation for the Hamas attacks.
During the vigil, Rabbi Michele Paskow praised Kessler for his bravery in defending Israel and emphasized the importance of affirming life and avoiding hatred. Rabbi Averbach also noted the significance of the tragic event occurring during important anniversaries for the Jewish community, such as the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh in 2018 and the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht.
Thousand Oaks Police Chief Jeremy Paris expressed his sorrow for the congregation and acknowledged the rise of antisemitism in the community. He stated that the recent events have opened his eyes to the potential for such incidents to occur.
Since the conflict in the Middle East began, there has been an increase in fears of hate-motivated attacks within Jewish, Muslim, and Palestinian communities. The Anti-Defamation League reported a nearly 400% rise in antisemitic incidents following the Hamas attacks on Israel.
Local investigators are still trying to determine the exact details of the confrontation between Kessler and the pro-Palestinian protester. Witnesses at the scene provided conflicting statements about the altercation and the aggressor involved. The protests involved around 75 to 100 people from the “Freedom for Palestine” and “We are Pro-Israel” groups.
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, Kessler was found lying on the ground with injuries to his head and mouth. He was conscious and responsive at the time but was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The autopsy revealed that Kessler’s cause of death was blunt force head trauma, along with other injuries consistent with a fall.
While Kessler’s death has been ruled a homicide, it does not necessarily mean a crime has been committed. The district attorney’s office will determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
The tragedy has deeply affected the synagogue community, coinciding with significant anniversaries and highlighting the ongoing issue of antisemitism. The congregation and community leaders are determined to stand against hatred and violence, seeking support and unity during this difficult time..