Injured Israeli speaks of ‘luck or fate’ after Russell Square stabbing
Yovel Lewkowski, 18, from Tel Aviv, escapes serious injury after being one of five victims in the London attack.
An Israeli teenager who was injured when a man went on a knife rampage in central London has said she does not know whether to call it “luck or fate” that she escaped death.
Yovel Lewkowski, 18, who was visiting London from Tel Aviv, was one of five people injured in the attack on Wednesday night but said she is “not afraid” to continue with her trip.
Ms Lewkowski said she watched as an American woman, who was fatally stabbed in the attack, “perished in front of my eyes” in a matter of “seconds, metres, breaths”.
In a moving Facebook post, on an account which appeared to belong to the teenager who was stabbed in the bicep muscle of the upper arm, she wrote: “I’m not afraid, I want to keep going with the trip.
“The last few hours have taught me to appreciate every second, I don’t know whether to call it luck or fate, but no doubt it is some sort of miracle compared to the woman who stood right next to me and perished in front of my eyes: a matter of seconds, metres, breaths.
“I send strength to the family and ask that you take advantage of every moment – nothing is to be taken for granted.
“It’s time to say thank you to the wonderful people in your lives… I thank everyone for their warm wishes.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
