Jewish man walks by Star of David
Jewish man walks by Star of DavidFlash 90

Director general of the European Jewish Association urged German education minister Johanna Wanka to enhance educational tolerance programs in German schools following the recent attack on a rabbi in Germany.

“We are very concerned about the safety of German Jews and we wish to prevent expansion of anti-Semitism in the country and throughout Europe,” said Rabbi Menachem Margolin, according to the European Jewish Press (EJP).

"Educational programs should not focus only on specific anti – Semitic incidents as horrific as they are, but rather, on the increasing legitimacy hate groups are receiving from the German public,” he said, stressing the recent increase of anti-Semitic assaults in the country.

The remarks come following the recent attack on 39-year-old Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gurewitz by a group of young men in a shopping center in the city of Offenbach, near Frankfurt. The men reportedly pushed him as they yelled “shitty Jew”.

A local police spokesman said a criminal complaint had been filed for an anti-Semitic hate crime, bodily injury and harassment, according to EJP.

State security officials are also investigating the incident. 

The rabbi was eventually rescued by his friend driving an automobile, as the men reportedly pursued him as he was fleeing the scene.