Youths attack rabbi in street for 'being Jewish'

Nice quick response from the Berlin Mayor to condemn the attack ­ but it may be prudent to go a step further like Hamburg and talk about empowerment, co-habilitation rights and better dialog between Christians, Muslims and Jews.

Happened to me once by a youth or arab descent tried to provoke me by shouting "Auslander" at me. Most people presume I am German until they hear me speak with an English accent. I just laughed at the little A##H### and told him look in the mirror. The very ones who should stop being racist are often the ones who are racist.

@Berlin fuer alles: Dude, should have been the Jews from the area in Brooklyn where I was raised: Crown Heights ­ they would have gotten their asses handed to them. Would have been like breaking into LL Cool Jays house.

Hope he gets better soon and his daughter gets over the shock and the perpetrators of this cowardly despicable are found (shopped would be good)and brought to justice.

Ahh, religion. What would the world be without it?

'Ahh, religion. What would the world be without it? '

The Peoples Republic of North Korea?

and isn't what the "Arab descent" youth was wondering about the Jewish religion?

North Korea worships Kim il Sung. Despite dying in 1994 he is the "eternal" head of state.

The world would do well without the monotheistic religions in particular.

Yes, Government/Cult of Personality worship is safe! Or is that just what it says in your little red book. North Korea = Good.

"Youths" is that code word for some group? Perhaps a racist, bigoted group that hates Jews? You can't demonize all young people. Just name the group if it's politically correct to do so.

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Tolerance is Crime when applied to Evil. -Thomas Mann

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Another reason why Germany needs Australian style anti vilification laws.

Zero tolerance for intolerance. And a judicial system which recognises the gravity of and acts as a deterrent to hate crime,

An obvious hate crime, directed at one of Islams enemies, Israel.

These youths are taught this prejudice very strongly in their homes.

TS Elliot , once said "prejudice has to be carefully taught.".

These youths need to know the justice system here in Germany will not condone such outrageous acts towards those that have different values, views and religion.

One of the most wonderful experiences and visions I've ever had since living in Berlin happened one day while I was sitting on a city bus. I saw a tall Jewish man walking down the Kudam in his long black coat, large hat and two long curls down the sides of his face. He had such conviction in his step. His steps said, "Never again," and I'm back!! I had to do everything to keep from crying in front of the other passengers. I wanted to run out of the bus and give him a high five for telling it like it is. I was so proud to be living in Berlin where Jews could return here and live like normal citizens. There must be zero intolerance of hate crimes in this city. And the government must do everything to stamp out the growth in Neo-Nazi's, rasicst thugs and cowards etc. The police and government must do everything to make sure events like this doesn't happen in this wonderful city and in Germany especially now in light of them turning a blind eye to the 10 Germans of foreign background who were killed by NeoNazi's this last decade. We cannot sit down and be quiet because this can happen to anyone. One shouldn't have to speak English or wear so-called normal clothes so that thugs don't kick your ass for not being a "typical auslaender." Besides what would the Turkish/Arab community have said if someone went up to a woman wearing a hijab, asked her her religion and then kicked her butt in front of her children? Hate crimes can and does happen on both sides and it must be stopped.

This kind of intolerance must always be condemned and I don't care who it is against whom. I will continue to defend Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, blacks, whites, Asians, Hindus, Latinos, liberals, conservatives - whoever, wherever - against violent attacks from any group or individual. We must always rise up against hatred, racism and prejudice. It's always wrong!

To all those who are having a go at people of Arab descent - THAT is also prejudice. @fueralles you are no better then the person who called you an Auslander. The article only says alleged also. Until it is verified this kind of guess the racial profile should not be the basis of a whole article, poor journalism.

I'm a newcomer to Berlin and I love this city the one thing I find difficult is the mentality of "us and them," and that only white people have an entitlement above all others and are the only ones that are not Auslanders.

There is diversity here but not really.

Wake up Germany, jews, muslims confronting each other on the streets. Whats next? Germany is becoming a multi racial, multi religious melting pot and the politicians are allowing it to happen. The end result will be no more Germany. Just another third world country.

Case study 1: I have just fled Poland after experiencing the Holocaust in its full blast. I might have managed to survive but the memory of my boyfriend being imprisoned, my niece being killed and my brother being tortured still haunts me. I still know nothing about the whereabouts of my father. Walking downtown in Caracas (the city that welcomed me after fleeing Germany), I come across a tall blond guy dressed in a black long coat. My gaze wonders and freezes upon seeing the big Nazi Cross pined on his coat. My world goes black and I lose all sense and logic. I ask him if indeed he is a Nazi. He proudly tells me that he is ex-SS. Now, do I have a right to hit him?

Most of you would say no, I definately, don't. I totally agree with you. But would you look at my act with a hint of sympathy and understanding if I did? Or would you condemn me as a racist?

Case study 2: I have just fled Palestine exeriencing ethnic cleansing in all its glory. I might have managed to survive but the memory of my boyfriend being imprisoned, my niece being killed and my brother being tortured still haunts me. I still know nothing about the whereabouts of my father. Walking downtown in Berlin (the city that claims to have absolved racism) I come across a tall guy dressed in a black long coat. My gaze wonders and freezes upon seeing the white little hat on his head. My world goes black and I lose all sense and logic. I ask him if indeed he is a Jew. He proudly tells me that he is a Rabbi. Now, do I have a right to hit him?

I'm neither Jew nor Palestinian. I'm just trying to put a new spin to an article that links the Rabbi attack to the circumcision trial, rather than mentioning the recent verdict in the Rachel Corrie case or the latest riots, fuelled by the attacks against a Palestinian family. Oh, I'm sorry, me pointing out that Jews tried to burn a whole family alive inside their car is considered anti-semitism here in Germany, right?

I just don't get this country. They are feeling so guilty for the war crimes committed 50 years ago that they are letting the victims become the victimizers? Mmm, yeah, because denouncing Israel's war crimes is anti-semitism. Then someone help me define facism, please.

And "noch einmal": noooo, I don't justify the attack. I find it preposterous. All I'm trying to do is give the article a different perspective.

Youths attack rabbi in street for 'being Jewish'

I thought they were all Jewish??????

One prayer, which I remember well from World War 2, started with the words ­ Give peace in our time -. My time is now running out, but hope dies last!

One of the biggest problems of our human world, is not the religions themselves, but their misuse for political and financial reasons. This can be seen at its worst in Africa, where Christians are being killed everyday in the name of Islam. Nevertheless, what the Jews do in Palestine and what George Bush (who claims to be a Christian), ordered to be done in Iraq must also be placed in the same category.

The teaching of God, according to the last two mentioned religions, does not allow the killing of other human-beings, but there has never been at time since Cain and Abel in which wars and murders have stopped. We should therefore be careful, when just blaming Islam for all the problems of multicultural integration and co-operation. On the other hand, anybody who grows up, believing that by losing his life, in battle for his religion, he will immediately reach Paradise, will always be a potential risk to those who do not believe the teachings of Muhammed.

The answer to all these problems, would be to judge people for what they do, rather for what they are, but this is unlikely in a world full of arrogance and egoism.

The irony is that the Jewish organizations throughout Europe have backed open immigration policies for those coming from Middle Eastern countries.

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