Millionaire Heir Arrested After Threatening Chabad Rabbi in Los Angeles

Bruce Lyon, a 64-year-old heir to a California raisins and dried fruit empire, was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of making terror threats against a Chabad rabbi and Jewish neighbors in Pacific Palisades, one of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods. According to reports in the New York Post, the California Post and other outlets, Lyon bought a $5.3 million luxury home in March next to the Chabad center run by Rabbi Zusha Konin.

Since moving in, Lyon allegedly harassed the rabbi and worshippers repeatedly. He is accused of shouting antisemitic and racist abuse from his balcony, directing slurs at Jews and Black residents, using terms such as “Jew boy,” and disrupting prayers, including when small children were present.

On the night of the arrest, Lyon reportedly called Konin and said, “Guess what? Iran is coming to get you. You better get out of here.” He also accused the rabbi of “hiding bodies” on the Chabad property. Konin described the harassment as “horrible” and said, “It was terrible. I have never experienced anything like this, especially in front of children. Small children. In this country, to see this kind of hatred and antisemitism, it is simply unacceptable.”

Konin and members of the community had filed repeated police complaints before Lyon was arrested late Friday. He was charged with terror threats and released on $50,000 bail. Reports said he has a criminal record that includes threats and weapons possession. Los Angeles City Council member Traci Park condemned the case, saying, “Hatred and harassment against a rabbi and his community are disgraceful. Hate has no place in Pacific Palisades.” The incident comes amid rising antisemitism in California and across the United States.