University police detectives have completed an investigation of
an alleged assault by Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, the director of
UCLA Hillel and a prominent leader in the local Jewish
community.
The reported incident took place Oct. 21, after a presentation
by Alan Dershowitz in Royce Hall. Police reports state that
Seidler-Feller allegedly kicked and grabbed the wrist of freelance
journalist Rachel Neuwirth. At a point during the incident,
Neuwirth called Seidler-Feller a “capo,” eyewitnesses
said.
“Capo” is a derogatory term for Jews who were forced
to work with Nazis inside death camps during the Holocaust.
UCPD detectives have forwarded their findings ““ based on
an initial police report filed by Neuwirth ““ to the city
attorney who will determine if charges will be brought against
Seidler-Feller, said Nancy Greenstein, director of police community
services for UCPD.
City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo could not be reached for comment
Monday.
Seidler-Feller declined to comment on the incident because of
the ongoing legal process and referred questions to his
attorney.
“Rabbi Seidler-Feller has offered an apology for a
regretful incident that did occur partially because of hateful
language that described him as a Nazi collaborator,” said
Donald Etra, Seidler-Feller’s attorney.
“(Seidler-Feller) has extended a hand of friendship and
reconciliation,” he said.
Neuwirth’s attorney, Robert Esensten, said his client only
used the epithet after she was allegedly assaulted.
He added, “Even if she made that comment prior to, there
could be no words that could justify what he did.”
After he left the Dershowitz presentation, Seidler-Feller spoke
with a small group of demonstrators protesting at the event, said
David Hakimfar, a fourth-year history student.
Neuwirth ““ a freelance journalist who has been published
in the Israel National News and Front Page magazine ““ said
she heard Seidler-Feller discuss an upcoming event with Sari
Nusseibeh, president of Al Quds University and Palestinian
Authority Commissioner for Jerusalem. She said she then approached
Seidler-Feller, alleging that Nusseibeh helped direct missile
attacks into Israel during the first Persian Gulf War.
Esensten said Seidler-Feller then physically confronted
Neuwirth, after which she called him a “capo.” Neuwirth
reported to police that her wrist was grabbed, and that she was
kicked. Esensten said one of the actions preceded the insult, but
he did not specify which one.
Seidler-Feller’s attorney would not discuss specific facts
of the incident, citing the ongoing legal process.
Seidler-Feller and Neuwirth were eventually pulled apart by
nearby students, Hakimfar said.
Hakimfar said he helped separate Seidler-Feller and Neuwirth,
and added that Seidler-Feller “landed at least one
kick” before he and Neuwirth were separated.
In addition to any potential criminal charges the city could
file, Esensten said Neuwirth intends to bring a civil lawsuit
against Seidler-Feller.