Thousands raised by rabbi for family of murdered Mill Hill shopkeeper

Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet urges the community to “demonstrate compassion” after Vijay Patel was brutally killed on Saturday

A Mill Hill rabbi has launched a crowdfunding appeal to raise money for the family of shopkeeper Vijay Patel, who died after being attacked on Saturday.

Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet (pictured below) from Mill Hill United Synagogue set up the Just Giving site this week, urging Jewish community members to “demonstrate compassion”
and help support Patel’s family.

Patel, 49, was knocked to the ground outside the Rota Express in Mill Hill last Saturday, after refusing to sell tobacco products to a boy who could not produce ID. He died from his injuries on Monday.

A 16-year-old boy from Brent appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with his murder.

Dozens of Jewish families have donated towards the fund, which by yesterday afternoon had raised more than £16,000 for the family – the target had been £1,000.

“As the Mill Hill Jewish community, it is appropriate that we demonstrate compassion for something so tragic that happened in our immediate neighbourhood,” said Schochet.