DETROIT — Late Wednesday night, an armed individual forcibly entered the residence of a rabbi in Michigan during a holiday dinner attended by Jewish students from the University of Michigan, according to law enforcement and school officials.

Approximately 20 students were gathered for a Jewish holiday dinner at the rabbi’s home when the assailant entered through an unlocked back door, took a bag, and quickly left the scene, as reported by Southfield police and university representatives. The incident occurred just before 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

The intruder brandished a firearm but did not discharge it, police confirmed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

“The suspect was armed with a handgun and stated, ‘I’m taking everything, give me everything,'” said the Southfield Police Department in an official statement. “Initial investigations suggest this was a crime of opportunity, but the inquiry is still underway.”

Police have identified a suspect and are working towards making an arrest; they have also apprehended another individual believed to be associated with the crime.

The break-in coincided with the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, as well as the commencement of the High Holy Days. This incident follows reports of multiple attacks on Jewish students near the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus in recent weeks.

These recent events unfold amidst a year filled with campus protests related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Anticipated demonstrations are set for Monday, marking the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Israel.

Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023, there has been a notable rise in both antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents across the United States. The Anti-Defamation League reported over 8,800 antisemitic incidents in 2023, reflecting a staggering 140% increase from the roughly 3,700 incidents logged in 2022. Similarly, the Council on American-Islamic Relations indicated nearly 5,000 complaints concerning anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian incidents from January to June.

‘Numerous distressing events locally and globally’

On Thursday, University of Michigan President Santa Ono expressed the institution’s unwavering commitment to ensuring student safety.

“Throughout the past year, we have faced countless events, both locally and globally, that have felt quite overwhelming and unsettling for many in our community. Given the recent escalations in the Middle East, it’s vital that we come together to provide comfort and security to one another,” he stated.

President Ono urged anyone with relevant information to reach out to Southfield law enforcement.

Last week, he addressed the series of attacks targeting Jewish students and acknowledged the discovery of racist graffiti directed at the Black community in one of the residence halls.

Earlier in September, a Jewish student reported being approached by a group who inquired about his religion. When he confirmed being Jewish, he alleged they assaulted him.

On a separate occasion, Ann Arbor police noted that an individual was punched on the porch of a house shared by students of a historically Jewish fraternity, followed by a group who returned to throw glass bottles at the residence.

The series of attacks has led Jewish students to form a volunteer group to accompany fellow students across campus. Ann Arbor police confirmed that the investigations into these incidents are still ongoing.

“As we begin the academic year, I want to emphasize that racism, violence, and any form of hate contradict our values, and we will not stand for it. While eradicating prejudice and violence can’t be done alone, these occurrences do not represent the norm,” Ono expressed in a statement on September 27.