A man who verbally abused and then attacked a rabbi was taken down outside the Adass Synagogue in Melbourne.

Rabbi Yoni Lowin squared up to the man, who was shouting, "Go back to Israel" at him.

The unidentified man then tried to attack the rabbi after Yowin told him "You are not a Muslim". Yowin wrestled his attacker to the ground and pinned him down, with the help of other men nearby.

The incident took place nearby Krav Maga IDF Training School, which teaches the martial art that was developed for Israel's military.

The IDF Training School's Avi Yemini said: "We didn't train Rabbi Lowin, but he instinctively used techniques we teach. He's a natural."