November 3, 2008 – Berlin – The AJC Berlin Office/Lawrence & Lee Ramer Institute for German-Jewish Relations is shocked about two hate incidents that took place in Germany over the weekend.

According to police reports, unknown suspects attacked a rabbi and eight rabbinical students in Berlin. After forcing the van to the side of the road, the assailants shouted anti-Semitic slogans and threw a burning object towards the van. Fortunately, no one was harmed.

In Hamburg, a Muslim cemetery was vandalized. Grave stones were covered with racist and anti-Semitic graffiti, including stars of David, and a linen cloth covered with swastikas was placed over several graves.

“We denounce attacks of anti-Semitism and any aggression against religious figures and sites, and call upon law enforcement authorities to do their utmost to find and prosecute the perpetrators of such heinous crimes,” said Deidre Berger, Director of the AJC Berlin Office/Ramer Institute.

“The severity of the attack against the rabbi underlines the need for a government ombudsman for anti-Semitism to monitor incidents more closely and raise public awareness that anti-Semitism is an attack on democracy,” said Berger.

According to the German Interior Ministry, more than 500 anti-Semitic criminal offenses were reported in the first half of 2008, an average of nearly three a day. This is an increase over statistics reported in 2007.