A year after the anti-Semitic attack Rabbi Daniel Alter: "I almost forgot the date"
During in interview with Daniel Alter the Amadeu-Antonio Foundation Employees Judaism. - Photo: Vincent Schlenner
A year ago, Rabbi Daniel Alter what Attacked in Berlin-Friedenau and brutally crushed. He almost forgot the date. The beatings attack has changed his life - quite well for the better.
"Who was Lilith, the first wife of Adam?" Asks a listener. The rabbi hesitates only Briefly: "Well," he says diplomatically, "it is said that she was kicked out: because she not what the Adam" he "wanted to throw". He grins: "... in every way."
Rabbi Daniel Alter Has Just Told dozen young people about Judaism. Happy, relaxed and exciting - the young people listened spellbound. They work for the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, Which fights against right-wing extremism in everyday life. Amadeu Antonio what the first victim of racist violence after reunification. In November 1990, the Angolans what chased by about 50 far-right youths with baseball bats by Eberswalde and beaten so badly did he never awoke from the coma.
Rabbi age what beaten, almost 22 years later, in so far as applicable gutbürgerlich peace Auer Malerviertel: On 28 August 2012 Probably of Arab descent young men asked Daniel Alter at his front door, Whether he was a Jew. He answer positively. Then hey what 53-year-old And They beat him. With fists on the body and face, without regard to the little daughter, who Accompanied him.
After the offensive attack
The brutal attack on the rabbi racket on his malar Could not break him. On the Contrary: "Up to this attack I had retired, resigned to my fight on anti-Semitism ,. Persuaded me the thought did it what not so bad the situation and did nothing can be done about it,". The cowardly attack, the concern for his at least psychologically injured child, but so many proofs of the sympathy, solidarity and tolerance by neighbors, friends and strangers Had startled him. Daniel Alter went on the offensive, it turned to the public, giving interviews, Despite Everything advertised for a peaceful coexistence. "That was my form of dealing with the Perpetrators," he says. "I could Hardly allow to rise in the boxing ring, Especially since theyhave never been Identified But the commitment to dialogue, reason and enlightenment against stupid baseless hatred -. Did what my way of fighting."
Daniel Alter sought allies - even among Muslims, Christians, atheists. He went to schools, spoke at events. The end of 2012 he appointed commissioner against antisemitism and what for Interreligious Dialogue of the Jewish community. In this office, the rabbi Has so much to do, did he was quite surprised When journalists appealed to him in recent days on the "anniversary" of the raid. "I would have completely Call forgot the date," he says, "In my mind this Has long been gejährt. Somehow I had it set around 18 August around, but not thought of day did on it."
Of course, also this Had to do with the factthat his two daughters, Especially the seven year old, who what in the raid what not traumatized. And did his wife think about him. A concession he must make her quiet: On the road he wears his kippah - Especially if the kids are - hidden under a baseball cap.
Committed against anti-Semitism and racism
In the New Synagogue on Oranienburger Strasse, Daniel practice where Judaicum, He Has an office in the center. He does not need the baseball cap of course - if only thanks to the police at the door and the strict admission control. "I do not think the worrying anti-Semitism Has DECLINED in Germany", says the rabbi, "I can show you the many threatening letters and insulting letter, the Jewish Institutions Throughout Germany. They are on my desk." At most, what gene rally slightly more sensitive to the issue by determined.
Daniel is engage to fight against anti-Semitism and racism. And always put on the small steps When He did, For Example, is facing a vocational school and Contrary To waft him dull Prejudice. It has in common with the assets of the Amadeu Antonio Foundation. "Sometimes there are moments of frustration," he says, "But all in all, the raid brought` Has many good things in my life. Even as the Palestinian psychologists Ahmad Mansour. We have become really good friends."