German hotel staff accused of refusing to serve man with Star of David pendant
Several hundred people protested in front of a hotel in
Germany after a Jewish musician said he had been refused service for wearing a
Star of David pendant.
Gil Ofarim, a 39-year-old singer and dual citizen of Israel
and Germany, posted a video to Facebook Tuesday night in which he accused the
Westin Leipzig hotel of denying him service because he was wearing a Star of
David necklace, DW reported.
After waiting in line to check-in, Ofarim asked why others
who arrived after him were admitted before him. According to Ofarim, another
customer replied telling him to “take off the star.” At least one employee then
told Ofarim he needed to remove the pendant to get service, the singer said.
At least 600 people, some of them carrying signs with a Star
of David and the Muslim crescent, showed up at the hotel that night, Leipziger
Zeitung reported. The protesters accused the hotel staff of antisemitism.
A spokesperson for Westin Leipzig told DPA, a German
publication, that the hotel was “deeply concerned” and was regarding the case
“extremely seriously.” The hotel has reached out to Ofarim to hear more details
about what happened, the spokesperson said.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany said in a statement
it was “shocked” by what it called antisemitic behavior at the hotel.
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