Rabbi is spat at by two men in anti-Semitic attack in Germany
Rabbi is spat at by ‘two men speaking Arabic’ in anti-Semitic attack while on his way home from synagogue with his son in Berlin
- Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal said he was insulted and sworn at by two men on Friday
- He was walking past an apartment block when they spat at him, authorities say
- Police said today they are treating the incident as a religiously-motivated crime
German police are investigating after a prominent Berlin rabbi was spat at on his way home from a synagogue.
Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal said he was insulted and sworn at by two Arabic-speaking men in Wilmersdorf, a district of Berlin, on Friday night.
He was walking past an apartment block with his son when the two men spat at him from inside the building, authorities say.
Police said today they are treating the incident as a religiously-motivated crime and are currently looking for suspects.
German police are investigating after a prominent Berlin rabbi was spat at on his way home from a synagogue (stock photo)
In a statement on a Jewish community website, Mr Teichtal said he was on his way back from a service at the synagogue.
He said: ‘We unfortunately have to say that aggression against Jews has taken on a life of its own, both in schools and on the streets of Berlin.
‘I remain convinced that most people in Berlin do not want to accept this aggression against Jews as a sad part of everyday Jewish life.
Calling for ‘love, tolerance, dialogue and education’, he added: ‘Most Berliners want Jewish people to be able to live freely without fear of being insulted, spat at or even beaten.’
Community leader Gideon Joffe hailed Mr Teichtal as a ‘preacher of love’ and said he was an advocate for good relations between religious groups.
‘In recent years we’ve heard a lot about hate preachers who spur on hatred between people of different beliefs,’ Mr Joffe said.
‘Our rabbi Teichtal is the complete opposite. In the Jewish community in Berlin he has acquired the reputation of a “love preacher”.
‘Therefore, the fact that even our rabbi Teichtal is attacked, when he was with a child, is an ironic twist of fate.’
Calling on plain-clothes police to help escort worshippers to and from the synagogue, he added: ‘This incident shows how important it is to reinforce the fight against anti-Semitism with further practical measures.’
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