Raisin Heir Denies Antisemitism in Hate Crime Case

Bruce Lion, heir to the Lion Raisins company, has called hate crime charges against him "ridiculous," insisting that an alleged antisemitic tirade directed at his rabbi neighbor was not motivated by religion. Lion, 64, faces three charges stemming from a confrontation in June with Zushe Cunin outside their neighboring homes in the Pacific Palisades.

Lion was seen on video half-naked on his balcony, reportedly spewing slurs at Cunin and threatening him. The charges include two felony counts of making criminal threats with intent to terrorize and one count of threatening someone based on their religious beliefs. If convicted, he could face up to nine years in prison.

"I have so many Jewish friends," Lion told the Daily Mail. "This wasn't about the rabbi being Jewish, it was the way he treated me, which wasn't nice."

Lion was arrested on June 14 and released on $225,000 bail. He was initially ordered to stay 300 yards away from Cunin, a restriction that effectively barred him from his own home. At a court hearing on Thursday, Lion's attorneys successfully sought to reduce the protective order to 100 yards. Despite this modification, Lion stated he has been staying in hotels and plans to reside in a different house owned by his father on the same street.

The pre-trial hearing was continued to November 4 due to the absence of Lion's lead attorney, who recently underwent surgery.

Footage of the June incident reportedly captured Lion threatening the rabbi, calling him "Jew boy," and making derogatory remarks about his weight and religion, including "You kill Jesus, you're going to f***ing hell."

Lion moved into the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in March, adjacent to Rabbi Cunin, who leads the Chabad of Pacific Palisades. Public records indicate Lion has a history of legal issues, including a 2019 conviction for violating a domestic violence restraining order, making criminal threats, and possessing a firearm. He was also arrested twice in 2023, once for allegedly throwing rocks at cars and assaulting construction workers, and another time for allegedly violating a domestic violence protective order at his ex-wife's home.

Lion Raisins, a family-owned company, is estimated to be worth around $120 million, with annual revenues of up to $75 million.