On Nov. 13, 2024, members of the West Orange Jewish community and beyond gathered for two planned events: an Israel real estate seminar hosted by My Israel Home and an Israel celebration. Originally scheduled at the home of Renee and Dr. Moshe Glick, the venue was moved to West Orange’s Congregation Ohr Torah following multiple threats from pro-Hamas groups and protesters stalking the Glicks’ home. This escalation, combined with recent violent confrontations at a comparable event in Bergenfield, prompted security officials to recommend moving the gathering to a more secure location. The Glicks coordinated closely with law enforcement and security agencies to ensure the safety of the event.
Despite efforts to keep the new location private, pro-Hamas protesters discovered the venue. They stormed the quiet neighborhood, chanting “Zionists are Nazis,” “Intifada, Intifada” and “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free”—the latter phrase officially declared unlawful hate speech by the Township of West Orange.
West Orange community member Yoni Glatt described the experience: “It was jarring and unsettling to see a screaming group pass our house and call us Nazis. The level of ignorance, aggression and virtue-signaling was abhorrent.”
As Eliezer Goldberg of My Israel Home prepared to speak about his late brother, Rabbi Avi Goldberg, HY”D, who had recently fallen in combat in Lebanon, the pro-Hamas protesters arrived en masse, disrupting the event. They aggressively confronted Dr. Glick and other community members standing outside the synagogue. Demonstrating what those present believed was intent to incite violence, protesters shouted and blew horns directly into the ears of Jewish attendees. As tensions escalated, 64-year-old David Silberberg of Millburn allegedly used pepper spray. Dr. Glick did not know about the pepper spray event until later that evening. Instead of calling for police assistance, about 10 seconds later one of the protesters, 42-year-old Altaf Sharif of Cliffside Park, attacked Silberberg after another protester pointed him out indicating “the Jew’s here.” Sharif then grabbed Silberberg by the throat, put him in a chokehold, and tackled him down a hill.
At the bottom of the hill, between the synagogue and a fire station, the assault continued. There was deep concern by bystanders as Silberberg was significantly smaller in stature than Sharif. “While he still had David Silberberg in a chokehold, with his head facing down toward the asphalt in the shul parking lot,” Dr. Glick recalled, “I saw his legs buckle and feared his neck was broken or that he was being choked out. I believed his life was in danger.”
Throughout the attack, Dr. Glick repeatedly called for police intervention, but the officers who were deployed at the top of the hill did not respond. Despite his attempts to push the attacker off Silberberg, Dr. Glick made no progress against Sharif’s grip. At that point, Silberberg’s legs had begun to buckle. Forced to make a split-second decision, Dr. Glick used the 6-inch flashlight he had been holding to illuminate the dark area to separate Sharif and get him to release his dangerous grasp of Silberberg’s neck. As a result, Silberberg was finally free of the attacker. “I had no choice but to jump in and rescue him,” Dr. Glick said.
After Dr. Glick separated the attacker, the police arrived on the scene.
Dr. Glick now faces four criminal charges, including second-degree bias intimidation, aggravated assault, and two charges related to his possession of a deadly weapon (referring to the 6-inch flashlight he was holding). The second-degree bias intimidation charge is based on the alleged aggravated assault—characterizing Dr. Glick’s actions as a bias-motivated attack rather than a defensive intervention to protect another person. The case is now being brought to a grand jury in Essex County, despite earlier attempts by Dr. Glick’s defense counsel to show the Essex County Prosecutor’s office that Dr. Glick was acting in defense of Silberberg in accordance with the law, including providing the office with video evidence proving Dr. Glick’s innocence and that the multiple reports given by Sharif in his statement to the police were false. In addition, two former police officers who are currently security experts examined the video and indicated that Dr. Glick’s actions were necessary and appropriate in defense of another individual.
To date, Sharif has still not been charged nor arrested, even though the attack was reported that evening to the police. Furthermore, clear video evidence was presented that demonstrates what transpired that evening, proving Dr. Glick’s actions were justified. However, he was still charged despite this evidence. And no charges have been filed against Sharif despite this video evidence.
Sharif has also committed perjury by lying to the police and filing a false police report which resulted in the wrongful arrest of someone—two crimes punishable with serious penalties that have been overlooked by authorities.
There does not appear to have been any cross-examination of the alleged victim following the evidence proving his false testimony, and none of the Israel event attendees were called in as witnesses.
Dr. Glick’s defense has required substantial resources, including several attorneys, forensic video analysis, video production, a public relations agency, and other specialized services. His criminal defense attorney team includes Michael F. Bachner and Mitchell A. Liebowitz, who believe the charges are baseless, both factually and legally.
Dr. Moshe Glick, a 52-year-old dentist and respected figure in the West Orange Jewish community, has dedicated himself to numerous charitable initiatives. He co-founded the MetroWest Israel Action Committee, West Orange/Livingston Chesed Committee and a kiruv program for children in public school. He is a Hatzalah volunteer, and was a Mountaintop League baseball, basketball and soccer coach for many years.
Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler of Congregation AABJ&D in West Orange commented, “Since October 7th, Moshe and Renee have given their heart and soul to galvanize our community to action on behalf of the hostages, the IDF and our brethren in Israel. Prior to October 7th their extraordinary devotion and passion served as the launching point for joint community based chesed activities. These are people who live for Am Yisrael and the future of the Jewish community.”
Spearheaded by Rabbi Zwickler, there is a letter signed by rabbinic leadership, Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey branch, Rabbinical Council of America, Chabad-Lubavitch New Jersey branches, heads of New Jersey yeshivas and other institutions across the state to request a meeting with New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin. In addition, the Jewish Bar Association of New Jersey (JBar) sent a letter to the Essex County Prosecutor’s office on behalf of more than 400 Jewish trial lawyers in New Jersey.
Dr. Barbara Listhaus, a Livingston resident who has worked with Dr. Glick on various community projects, attests to his character: “Moshe does everything with sensitivity, compassion and the utmost respect. I’ve seen him shovel out a driveway during a snowstorm so a wheelchair-bound patient could return home from the hospital.”
As co-founder of the MetroWest Israel Action Committee, Dr. Glick helps run the “Stand Up for Israel” WhatsApp groups with 1,000+ members. In the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, he was co-organizer of a rally that drew nearly 6,000 attendees. In May 2024, he spearheaded the installation of a 9-foot milk carton displaying images of Hamas-held hostages. In addition, as co-president of Israel 365 NJ, Dr. Glick, along with his wife, Renee, work with Christian Zionists to advocate for Israel.
IDF Special Forces Major Sagi Dovev, who now volunteers at Sheba Hospital in Israel, highlighted Dr. Glick’s contributions: “He has volunteered repeatedly, providing resources for wounded soldiers and released hostages. Whatever we need, he delivers—without hesitation.”
Although Dr. Glick had facilitated peaceful pro-Israel activism across the MetroWest area, it has resulted in him receiving threats and being doxxed, even prior to this event.
“Moshe tirelessly assists the elderly, coordinates financial aid for those in need, connects job seekers with employment opportunities, and is a Hatzalah volunteer,” remarked Naomi Berg, a West Orange resident who has known Dr. Glick for over 15 years. “In this situation, Moshe literally helped to save someone’s life and it’s a moral outrage that he is the one facing criminal charges.”
“It is evident that Moshe is being targeted because he is a prominent face of Israel activism in the MetroWest area. This is not just an attack on Moshe Glick, but it is an attack on our entire community,” remarked Larry Rein, a community leader. “We stand with him as he has always stood with us.”
The charges against Dr. Glick have also galvanized Christian supporters. Hannah Garces, director of outreach at Generation Zion, a Christian group that works with Israel 365, stood with the Jewish community that night in West Orange. “It was horrific to see pro-Hamas extremists harass Jews at their place of worship and even physically assault a community member,” she said. “Their hatred for Jews and their allies is blatant and violent.”
“Being charged, arrested, fingerprinted, and having my mugshot taken was not a fun experience,” Dr. Glick admitted. “At that moment, I wished I hadn’t seen ‘Shawshank Redemption’ so many times. But I wore my kippa, held my head high, and knew everything is B’yedei Shamayim (in God’s hands). Our faith is tested in tough times, but we have a choice—and I choose my faith in Hashem.”
Overall, the case has presented some very troubling questions that have caused an uproar in the Jewish community and beyond.
CAIR NJ (Council of American Islamic Relations) issued a press release on Feb. 19, 2025, filled with their chosen narrative of what transpired that evening, accompanied by anti-Israel vitriol. The release also stated their intention to push for criminal prosecution and a civil lawsuit seeking monetary and punitive damages.
The timing of CAIR’s press release is suspect. While the West Orange event occurred on Nov. 13, 2024, CAIR waited until Feb. 19 to issue their statement—just one day after the Feb. 18, 2025 Boro Park mob attack on Jews at another Israel real estate event, which included attempted stabbings and car rammings. CAIR’s release also coincided with the tensions running high that week in West Orange, when CAIR and other groups were pressuring the township to pass an “Islamophobia” resolution.
As one high-level political consultant who wishes to remain anonymous commented, “There is no coincidence here. CAIR is using every opportunity to flip the scenario, assert blame elsewhere, and pressure law enforcement to acquit violent pro-Palestinian protesters who break the law.”
The West Orange incident is not isolated. In Nov. 2023, 65-year-old Paul Kessler was murdered in Los Angeles after being struck in the head by an anti Israel protester wielding a megaphone. Days before the West Orange event, violent protests erupted at a similar real estate seminar in Bergenfield.
As Dr. Glick works with his team on his proactive strategy, he vows to help pave the way for others in his position. They aim to establish protocols to ensure others in similar situations are protected, and to hold violent anti-Israel protesters accountable for their actions.
“As Jews, we are guided by bitachon and emunah, and believe that everything happens for a reason. I believe I was put in this position to help others and make sure that other individuals do not become victims of the twisted anti-Israel narrative that has somehow become mainstream. We, the Jewish people, as we always have … will prevail against these dark forces. As the great Menachem Begin asserted, ‘I am not a Jew with trembling knees.’”
To become involved in supporting this critical cause, as this precedent-setting case will shape how Jews are treated in the judicial system, in the wake of rising antisemitism and anti Israel bias, please contact Larry Rein at [email protected] or at 973-714-3951.
