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A Kentucky woman captured on video spewing antisemitic slurs and physically assaulting a Jewish man inside a Midtown Manhattan office building has been charged with a hate crime.
Noora Shalash, 39, of Lexington, Kentucky, faces charges of aggravated harassment as a second-degree hate crime following the disturbing incident at 950 Third Ave. According to a report from The Post, Shalash, who allegedly hurled profanity-laced antisemitic remarks and struck a Jewish man multiple times, is scheduled to be arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Saturday.
The confrontation unfolded Thursday afternoon when Shalash approached a Hasidic man in the building's lobby. Seth Bell, 46, who witnessed and recorded the incident, described how Shalash aggressively entered the man's personal space while shouting offensive language linked to Middle Eastern conflicts.
"As I got closer, I heard the word 'Jew' being thrown around, and 'genocide,' 'Israel,' and 'Palestine,' and I just knew immediately," Bell recounted. "She was equating some random Jewish guy with what was going on in the Middle East, which is classic antisemitism."
When Bell confronted Shalash, asking if she was antisemitic, she launched into a hate-filled tirade, captured on video. In the footage, Shalash can be heard shouting, "F--k the Jews, I love Jesus… I demand Jihad! I want ISIS to kill all of you! I am conspiring with Hamas, Palestinian Jihad, and with ISIS, I am conspiring with them!" while attempting to swat Bell's phone from his hand.
Shalash allegedly struck Bell on the head and kicked at him during the altercation. The video also shows her sitting defiantly in an elevator, refusing to leave. Bell, visibly frustrated, is heard saying, "You messed with the wrong Jew today, Noora," and, "This is what Jews in New York City have to deal with."
Building security promptly contacted the police. Shalash, dressed in a long skirt, heels, and a purple sweater emblazoned with "PINK," was initially transported to Bellevue Hospital for a psychological evaluation.
The reasons behind Shalash's presence in New York City and any connection to the victim remain unclear. Police confirmed that no medical treatment was required for the victims.
In the wake of the incident, social media posts identified Shalash as the "director of government affairs" for the Kentucky chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). However, CAIR National quickly refuted this claim, stating that Shalash has not been affiliated with their Kentucky chapter for over five years.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, underscoring rising concerns over antisemitic hate crimes in New York City.
