Alleged stalker of Orthodox victim arrested

By · January 14, 2008

A Melbourne man was arrested for allegedly stalking the victim of an anti-Semitic attack.

The victim, Menachem Vorchheimer, was attacked in 2006 by a group of Australian Rules soccer players.

Victoria Police arrested the alleged stalker, in his 40s, who is also expected to be charged with sending offensive mail to Vorchheimer that apparently included death threats, as well as other offenses.

“This police action sends a clear message to the community: Anti-Semitism will not be tolerated under any circumstances, no matter how major or minor the incident is,” B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission executive officer Manny Waks told JTA.

Vorchheimer, an Orthodox Jewish businessman, was punched in the face and abused while walking to synagogue with his children on Simchat Torah in 2006. Two Australian Rules players were convicted in the attack; a third was fined with no conviction.

Vorchheimer relocated his family to New York after the incident.