Only yesterday I was walking on a Brooklyn street where a Chabad center is next door to a mosque. What this story tells us again is that people are people. Good people need to continue to fight the good fight against people with darkness in their hearts. This mandate crosses ethnic, religious and racial lines.

I am curious as to when the last time a Moslem newspaper credited a Jew for saving a Moslem's life? Can anyone give me an example of this?

The Muslim guy did his duty as a concerned citizen, he's the one that did everything right. The yelling Christians did everything wrong, using Christmas cheers to provoke a reaction from people with a different faith. If I would have been among the 4 jews I wouldn't have answered back(to much honor) and would've ignored the group of 10. But they might've wanted a fight anyway.

First of all I am a "Born-Again" Christian who definately is going to honor the birth of my savior Jesus. BUT!!!, I definately want to wish all in the Jewish community a Happy Hanukkah also. I do not know the full story of what happened, but whatever happened, it should not have led to an altercation. That is "NOT" the teachings of Jesus and is not what He would have done. Happy Hanukkah AND Merry Christmas to All. JohnB

In this case our gratitude goes out to Hassan Askari (Shukran min Kulna. Inta Jabar kabir) for his courageous actions. Just as he was not blinded by hatreds and did the right thing to risk his own life and health to come to the aid of those being attacked, so we too must not paint all Arabs/Moslems with a wide brush. There are those who were recently honored for saving Jews in holocaust. Hassan Askari, too, is a very honorable and courageous soul. On the other hand Joseph for you it should be "Nus Hanukkah" or someone who flees. The true miracle of Hanukkah was of the courage of the Macabi'im to stand up and fight (like the Zionists did against the Nazis) and defeat the Greeks. But then again the Prushim (Rabbis) came along in their hatred and rivalry against the Tzedukim (Macabbees) to try to steal the credit of Hanukkah by making up the fictitious story of the cruise of oil (candle, etc.) IT NEVER HAPPENED. IT WAS A TOTAL FICTION. The book of Macabees explains that after the Macabees recaptured the Temple from the Greek the Macabees (ie priestly family and dynasty in control at the time and in charge of religious ceremonies) had missed the Sukkot celebration. The first thing that they did was to celebrate Sukkot late that year. Since Sukkot along with Shmini Atzeret was 8 Days, THIS IS THE TRUE REASON WHY HANUKKAH WAS EIGHT DAYS. On the other hand, the Prushim (Rabbis) hated the guts of the Tzedukim (Macabees) and did everything possible to undermine them. So a few hundred years later someone made up the fable of the jar of oil and the rabbis have pushed this story over the True heroism and valor of the Macabees who valiantly fought and defeated the Greeks. It should also be told that Matityahu issued a Takana (Order, Fatwa for Moslems) that if attacked, Jews must fight to defend themselves on Shabbat. Previous to this our enemies learned that Jews did not fight on Shabbat and would only attack on Shabbat (Anyone remember the Yom Kippur War?). Another point is that Antiochus ordered Matityahu to eat meat and milk together and Matityahu refused. Aniochus said that they would prepare chicken to look like meat so he could eat them together (Anyone every milk a chicken?) and Matityahu not only refused but issue another Takana changing the classification chicken (poultry) to meat. Before then it was not considered meat. (So far no one has gotten so confused as to try to milk a fish). This is why today chicken is classified as meat. On the other hand the Prushim were on the rise during that period. Herod had come along and de-legitimized the Macabean dynasty and effectively put an end to it although he did carry out both an amazing building campaign and massive murders including his own wife and children. So when Israel fell to the Romans, the Prushim had their opportunity and they effectively took over and transformed Judaism effectively into a new religion. It was no longer tied to Israel (hence anti-Zionists like Joseph) and became a portable religion. Just grab your Siddur, Torah, Tfillin, Tallit, etc. and you can be a Jew anywhere in the world. They did save Jews and Judaism albeit Judaism was forever transformed into a new religion (not as bad though as the Christians did).

BOTTOM LINE: There are different solutions in different times for saving Jews. I will accept any actions that save the lives of Jews (a few individuals excepted obviously). But I revere the heros of the Jews as we read of them fighting Amalek, Jehoshua, Barak Ben Avinoam, Devorah, and even the bastard Yiftah who was an outcast until they needed him and he became a hero. From there all the way through the history of Jews until this day including those who fought to create the state of Israel, who fought the Nazis, and who fight terror today. Since the takeover of the Judaism by the Rabbis there are very few stories of the religious actually fighting as they did throughout the Torah. There everyone 21 years old and up were commanded to fight. The tradition of the religious is to get out of their duties and to rewrite history (like Joseph) and steal the credit from those who really deserve it. Thank you Mr. Hassan Askari .

is a verbal attack?. G-d bless America that this something we "need" to be upset about. Seriously, we need to stop being so defensive.

Highlighting a unique individual's virtue has a place in a Jewish paper regardless of what other papers choose to print.

Even the Germans had Oscar Schindler. While Askari is certainly a hero we must not forget most of his fellow muslims would rather see all the Jews disappear!

We have no qualms with Muslims who let us live in peace in our land.

Some of the best posts I have read on this site in the last few years. Kudos.

B'shem Hashem Elokay Yisrael, m'yemini Michoel, umismoli Gavriel, umilfonai Uriel, u-may-achorai Refoel, v'al roshi sh'chinas E-l.

This is why I love New York. I used to fear Muslims until I actually met some. The ones I met were honest people, loyal, incredible friends, with very...interesting...political opinions. But they were great people, just like Askari. Anyway this article IS making it vague what led to the fight. Was the group of 10 yelling "merry christmas" at them in a holiday spirit or to offend them because they knew they were Jewish and wanted to see a reaction? If all 10 attacked at once it's probably the latter though....

WHAT A WONDERFUL NEWS T J E GOOD MESSAGE OF THE DAY LIVING IN THESE DARK DAYS OF ETERNAL REPETION OF PAST STUPIDNESS INMIDTH ONGOING LIES EVERYWHERE T H I S IS GOOD thank you yihi yei

Awesome! Your words ring true.I wish also to see an authentic judaism as opposed to a rabbinic distortion.If you have a web site with more of your writings I would love to see it. Thank you!

I guess you could never help..Maybe that's what's wrong ...there isn't ever any thoughts of reciprocity .. Everyone of the talkbacks is about what others have done..none about what the Jews have done... Hmmmm does anyone else notice it but me?

it's different here then from the rest of the world that's why everyone wants to live here

I think you missed the loudness and tone at which this 'blessing' was uttered by this crowd in a confined space. Correct me if I'm wrong but a verbal attack is saying(let alone screaming) something at other people you know will upset them. Nothing to do with being defensive, just civilized.

Applies to both Gentiles and Jews. One righteous Muslim showing by example what other silent Muslims and others should do. Show peace and compassion no matter what religion. To please G-d we must do pleasing things. Bless this young mans excellent example. May many more follow in his footsteps. There are so few.....

You imply that this act does not warrant a headline. So, does it warrant a headline everytime a Muslim does something bad? Im sure you would be one of many to respond to a YNET headline of some despicable act by a Muslim, decrying how this represents all of Islam worldwide. Yet, when there is a positive headline of an act by a Muslim, you are indignant that there is a headline. With all of the negativity reported in the news, its good to see some positive stories, if and when they do arise, especially when the overall context of the story is a negative one (anti-semitic attack on Jews). Thank you to the Muslim subway rider for being a good, and courageous human being!

I see this is as a great oppotunity to post POSITIVE comments, so can we please for once in our lifetime have 100% positive comments on a subject like this one and form all people, irrespective of their religions or ethnicities?