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June 24, 2010

In Germany, youths attack Jewish dance group

A Jewish dance group was attacked with stones by a group of children and teenagers during a performance at a street festival in the Germany city of Hannover, police said Thursday. One dancer suffered a leg injury and the group then canceled their performance, the Associated Press reports.

The teenagers also used a megaphone to shout anti-Semitic slurs during the Saturday afternoon attack, Hannover police spokesman Thorsten Schiewe said.

Police said the incident is under investigation and that they do not have an exact number of attackers yet. Schiewe said there were several Muslim immigrant youths among the attackers.

Two suspects, a 14-year-old and a 19-year-old, were being questioned, he said.

Alla Volodarska, whose Progressive Jewish community of Hannover group held the performance, told The Associated Press in an interview that members were still in shock.

"What happened is just so awful," Volodarska said. "The teenagers started throwing stones the moment our dance group was announced, even before they started dancing."

Volodarska said she did not attend the event herself, but had talked to several members of the eight-person dance group since the incident. She said one dancer, a woman in her forties, was injured by several stones that hit her leg.

"There were many kids throwing stones, many of them, but we don't know the exact number," she said, adding that the community had performed Israeli group dances at many festivals in the past and never experienced this kind of hostility before.

Volodarska said that the festival took place in Sahlkamp, an immigrant neighborhood of Hannover.

Posted by Matthew Hay Brown at 10:08 AM | | Comments (15)
        

Comments

Perhaps the reason there is so much anger and violence among Muslims is that it isnt a religion of peace like Christ taught. Love your neighbor as yourself? Muslims seem more hung up on Muhammed and then you look at the atrocities he committed. Why are they so against Israel? Cant they just go their way and pray or whatever without harrassing someone because they are Jewish? I realize there is conflict in the west bank, but too many Muslims react with an "Israel must die" attitude than with looking for peaceful solutions. Is the Muslim religion a true religion? The only true religion is Christianity. There is way too much pride among Muslims. Christ teaches us to be humble. Can you blame employers for checking out the backgrounds of Muslims if they are connected in some way to some group that supports bombings etc? Sounds like people are listening to satan to me, even though they accuse many others of doing that.

Clay - How do you know all the attackers were Muslim? The article said "there were several Muslim immigrant youths among the attackers" the use of the word among would indicate that there were non-Muslims in the group. Maybe even some who claim to be Christians.

I dont know that all the attackers were Muslim. I am, however, pointing out a major difference between religions which is obviously true.

Christians have also committed their fare share of atrocities so maybe you should leave the generalizations of all based on the acts of a few.

Clay - Because you do not follow the one and only true religion , founded by Timothy Leary's younger brother, Really Leary, that states that when you die, your soul goes to a garage in Buffalo, you are lost. I believe it, so it must be true and anything you may say, will not convince me otherwise. I am right because I say so, JUST LIKE YOU. Damn you are an idiot.

Clay is not like you Littel. He doesn't intentionally insult people.

Sure Christians have done wrong things. What I am pointing out is a basic difference between the two religions, one based on peace and love and the other based on punishment for what Abraham did by sending his son into the desert with his mother. One is based on revenge, another on forgiveness. One is prideful, the other humble. That makes a lot of difference in how most followers of either see themselves and behave.

Clay,

And which are you, prideful or humble? Based on your postings here, I'd say humility is not your strong suit.

Abstinonymous - Clay's postings are an insult to the the intelligence of the totality of Humanity. It and he, are fair game and should be insulted until idiots like him are marginalized to the point where they can do no harm.

I like that Littel one, "marginalized to the point where they can do no harm." It seems to be what happened to you.

I'm not the anonymous you think I am.

Then pick a damn name. I can hardly be expected to keep track of more than one anonymous.

I can hardly be expected to live up to your expectations Mr. Littel.

(Alternate Fake) Anonymous - I expect honesty, so you are right, you can't live up to my expectations.

Clay:
Jesus is a prophet of the Muslims so by default all Christians are Muslims and all Muslims are Christians. Similarly Moses is a prophet of Muslims and Jews so by default we are all Jews and Christian and Muslim.
I do not think God has preferences.
We should simply practice our faith to create a just and fair Society like we have in America.

Muslims, Jews , Christians and all the others pray to the same God.
The Anti-Antisemitism is because Jewish people are better educated and wealthier than their Christian and Muslim neighbors. This is a fact that is true throughout Europe & the USA.
Most races are jealous of Jewish people. I have never met a Jewish Day Laborer anywhere in Europe or America.
This is a testament to the level of Jewish education and achievement.

You said that idiots should be "marginalized to the point where they can do no harm" and I said that seems to be what happened to you.

How was that not honest Mr. Littel?

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About Matthew Hay Brown
Matthew Hay Brown writes and blogs about faith and values in public and private life for The Baltimore Sun. A former Washington correspondent for the newspaper, he has long written about the intersection of religion and politics. He has reported from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, traveling most recently to Syria and Jordan to write about the Iraqi refugee crisis.
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