MELBOURNE, Australia (VINnews) – An 18-year-old Chabad yeshiva student was threatened with a knife and punched while conducting Jewish outreach activities in a Melbourne suburb last week, according to police and the local Jewish community.

According to community accounts, Lewinthal approached a man on a residential street shortly before 1:35 p.m. and asked whether he was Jewish and interested in putting on tefillin. The man allegedly responded with verbal abuse before Lewinthal walked away.

In an interview with Australia’s 7NEWS, Lewinthal said he had simply been carrying out his regular outreach activities and had approached the man politely.

“I was just being polite,” Lewinthal told the broadcaster. “It’s just what we do every Friday.”

The suspect then allegedly followed the student, confronted him again and threatened to kill him and “the rabbis who send him” before producing a knife and pointing it at him.

Lewinthal backed away and attempted to calm the situation, but the suspect continued advancing, according to the account. The man then allegedly punched Lewinthal in the stomach.

Witnesses and nearby residents called emergency services, and Victoria Police responded. Detectives located and detained a suspect matching the description shortly after the incident and took an initial statement.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not announced whether charges will be filed.

Despite the attack, Lewinthal returned to complete his outreach activities after providing a statement to police, according to the local Jewish community.

The incident comes amid heightened concerns over antisemitic incidents in Australia following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Victoria Police have not publicly indicated whether the assault is being investigated as a hate crime.