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Mendel Gurewitz (right, next to Offenbach's ex-Mayor Horst Schneider): Help from all sides
Photo: Claus Kopert / picture alliance / Claus Kopert / dpa
After an anti-Semitic attack against an Offenbach rabbi, the Orthodox Rabbinical Conference praised the moral courage of witnesses to the incident on New Year's Day.
"Every attack on Jewish life, be it verbal, physical or fatal, is always a shock for the Jews living here in Germany," said Frankfurt Rabbi Avichai Apel from the board of the Orthodox Rabbinical Conference.
"What makes us happy despite this sad occasion: the citizens of Offenbach have shown moral courage and loudly put the attacker in his place," said Apel.
The Offenbach rabbi Mendel Gurewitz was on the way home from the synagogue with his children on New Year's Eve when he was allegedly insulted by a 46-year-old man.
Several witnesses called the police, who temporarily arrested the man.
"People intervened from every window, shouted at the aggressor, defended us"
Rabbi Mendel Gurewitz
According to a police spokesman, investigative proceedings were initiated against the drunk suspect, among other things, for incitement to hatred, insults and the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations.
Gurewitz had already received anti-Semitic insults and attacks several times in the past.
Gurewitz himself described the incident in a Facebook post as a traumatic experience.
The reaction of the residents was overwhelming: “People intervened from every window, shouted at the aggressor, defended us, and informed the police.
Some left their homes and followed him on foot or by car, ”he wrote.
"It was a sudden explosion of love and support."
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mxw / dpa
