Group says two youths made antisemitic remarks outside the north Dallas center; community urged to share identifying information.

TJP Staff Report
Feb. 19, 2026

Dallas – StandWithUs says it is monitoring an incident outside the Olami Dallas Center on Feb. 12 in which two young men allegedly made antisemitic remarks and attempted to intimidate the Jewish life center and its host family.

According to the organization, the youths approached the residence claiming to be window cleaners despite having no visible equipment. Before ringing the doorbell, they were heard discussing the presence of yarmulkes outside the center, which displays several Israeli flags. One of the youths can be heard on video saying, “Fake Jews.”

After their offer of services was declined by Rabbi Jak Rubin, one of the youths spat on the property while the other shouted, “Free Palestine.” After realizing they were being recorded, one of the youths then yelled, “I love the Jews.”

Rabbi Rubin said the incident underscores the need for visible Jewish pride and resilience.

“There’s much brazenness required to walk up to a house in an attempt to intimidate a Jewish life center and its host family, ring the doorbell and say ‘Free Palestine,’” Rubin said. “This requires us to be that much bolder and proud of our Jewishness and Israel, through open pride, a strong sense of identity and nurturing our mission from G-d. We won’t run, we won’t hide — we will be a light to the world.”

Josh Arbital, StandWithUs regional director & campus affairs for the central region and a Dallas resident, said the organization is working with local partners.

“As a proud Jewish community that is part of the fabric of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, we are extremely disappointed to learn of, and we condemn, the antisemitic rhetoric that took place against Olami, a Jewish place of worship in the north Dallas area,” Arbital said. “In coordination with Olami Dallas and local partners, we are monitoring the situation and assessing what can be done to find these perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

Jordan Cope, StandWithUs director of policy education and a Dallas native who visited the center earlier that day, said the remarks reflect a broader trend.

“The youths’ mention of ‘fake Jews,’ followed by ‘Free Palestine’ and then ‘I love the Jews,’ is a reminder of how bigots often disguise antisemitism as Middle Eastern politics,” Cope said. “Israel is an integral component of Jewish identity. Efforts to intimidate Jewish people into abandoning pride for their homeland ultimately seek to silence Jews at a time when antisemitism continues to rise throughout the West.”

StandWithUs said it remains in contact with Rubin’s family and continues to monitor the situation.

A video of the incident is available at standwithus.com/news/standwithus-condemns-effort-to-intimidate-jewish-life-center-in-dallas/. The video referenced in the incident was provided by StandWithUs and the Olami Dallas Center.

StandWithUs is asking anyone who may be able to help identify the youths involved to email Josh Arbital at joshuaa@standwithus.com.