Jacob R.
Yelp
This is my first one star review on Yelp, and it's kind of a unique situation. I was at Borekas a few years ago, and found the food to be pretty good, though a little overpriced. However, it's a family business, so I'm more happy to pay a little more when it's not just going to a massive corporation.
I am also Jewish myself and always like to support Jewish culture, Jewish history and Jewish joy. The last few years have been especially difficult for many Jews around the world, as hate crimes have skyrocketed including here in America. As I type this there was just an arson attack on a synagogue in Mississippi, and last month there was a terrible attack that killed Jews celebrating Hanukkah in Australia. Sephardic Jews specifically have a rich and unique history, with some of them being forced to convert in Spain but keeping their traditions alive despite persecution, and I'm glad to see a proud Sephardic place in my neighborhood.
The thing is, the owners of Borekas are my neighbors. We live on the same street, in a neighborhood near the Van Nuys location by Ralphs. I see them out and about all the time. And I've now had two dangerous incidents involving one of the owners, Uzi W (I am only posting individual information here that is already public on Yelp and will not get any more specific about identity).
The first incident involved their dog attacking and nearly killing my dog years ago. This was when they first moved into their home on my street, and despite being a traumatic incident, I think it was just a mistake. They later put a fence around their yard and there were no further problems with their dog getting loose. I don't think anything negative was meant by it, and both of our dogs have since passed away. Nonetheless I avoided their house with my dog for years later until her death (she was an old lady Pomeranian and only about 5 pounds).
The second incident, and the reason I am here on Yelp, happened yesterday on January 12, 2026. Uzi W in his Jeep ran a stop sign right by our street and nearly collided with me. However, after he looked at me, did he apologize? No. He actually turned his vehicle around and tried to run me over, forcing me to mount the sidewalk. Then he turned his vehicle around once more, revved his engine, and sped at me to try and intimidate me. He stopped and got out of his vehicle and cursed me, threatening to "f---ing kill me" and "I'll beat your a-- p---y". As I left, he ran after me yelling more threats. It was especially confusing because this all began because *he* ran a stop sign. I assume he was embarrassed and this was road rage.
But there are no excuses for this behavior.
This is on our street. In broad daylight. With other people around. We are neighbors!
The incident was so dangerous that I have reported it to the police. The police told me I should have called 911 right after, and if there are any future incidents, I am to immediately call 911 and officers will do a field report. If there are further incidents I may need to press charges or get a restraining order. I am telling you here right now to stay away from me, do not ever threaten me again, and if you use your vehicle to try and hit me or strike me or intimidate me in the future I will immediately call 911. And if I see you running a stop sign again like that which is, I remind you, against the law I will also report it.
And you didn't even slow down or look both directions. Our neighborhood is filled with families. You could have hit a child. Every year in LA people are killed in hit-and-runs and in road rage incidents. I'm on a bicycle, you are in a Jeep. It's a very threatening situation. We have dogs, families, kids always in our streets especially in the afternoon. This happened between 4:30pm and 4:45, so I assume you were returning from your work at Borekas.
On your website and on your social media, you advertise Borekas not just as a food place, but as a place of culture and history and values. Your Instagram states that you are "G-d first". Yesterday was NOT an example of those values.
You should never ever run stop signs or treat anyone like that, it's incredibly dangerous, but to do that on our street like that in broad daylight? We aren't just random strangers to each other. We are neighbors. The only reason I know who you are is because two Jewish friends of mine in the area frequent Borekas. They love your place and you have now lost both of them as customers. I know many of the Jews in our neighborhood and I wouldn't be surprised if we have mutual friends.
If you keep behaving this way, it could eventually end in tragedy. Every year we see on the news reports of hit and runs. I know one person who was left for dead in such an incident and I have been hit by cars before in LA, including recently by someone turning at a red light without looking.
And if you had struck me, what would you have done? Would you have fled? Would you have left me there injured? I'm outraged.