Berliners protest after rabbi beating

About 1,500 people rallied in Berlin Sunday in support of a rabbi who was brutally beaten in front of his young daughter, allegedly by a group of Arab youths.The protest against anti-Semitism and racism took place near the scene of the attack on 53-year-old Daniel Alter in the western district of Schöneberg on Tuesday.

Alter, who attended the demonstration, thanked the crowd for the "wonderful outpouring of moral support" for his family.

"My cheekbone was broken but these guys did not break my will to stand up for dialogue between religions," he said.

Police have launched an investigation but made no arrests in the case.

A Berlin city government official of Turkish origin, Dilek Kolat, called for more vigilance in the face of what she called a rising tide of hate crimes and for a firm response to anti-Semitism from Muslim groups.

"We must act where we see racism and xenophobia," she said to applause from the crowd.

The Jewish community of Berlin's point man on anti-Semitism, Levi Salomon, welcomed support from local leaders, noting that Mayor Klaus Wowereit wore a Jewish skullcap late Saturday at an event showcasing the German capital's diverse religious groups. (...)