Gil Ofarim, a German Jewish rock musician, alleged in a video posted to social media that two staffers at a German hotel told him he had to cover his Star of David Necklace before he could check into his room.
The alleged incident took place at the Westin hotel in Leipzig, a city in eastern Germany; Marriott is Westin’s parent company. Ofarim explained that there was a lengthy line to check in to the Westin because the hotel’s computers had crashed. “I’m standing here with my chain. That’s my right, I’ve been doing it my whole life. And one person after another is taken ahead of me in line. And I don’t understand why.”
Ofarim then asked one of the hotel staffers why he was being bypassed, to which the staffer replied that they were simply trying to “break up the line.” Ofarim claims to have heard someone say, “Put away your Star [of David]!” The staffer, who Ofarim simply referred to as “Mr. W,” then said the same thing. The hotel manager told Ofarim that he could check in only if he put away the necklace, the singer alleged.
“Really?” an emotional Ofarim said. “Germany 2021.”
🚨 WATCH:
German Jewish musician @GilOfarim tearfully recounts the outrageous antisemitism he encountered at @Marriott’s @Westin in Leipzig.
The hotel suspended the employee, but failed to apologize.
Urge Marriott to take concrete steps against Jew-hate!
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) October 6, 2021
Andreas Hachmeister, a spokeswoman for Marriott International, told CNN that they have suspended the two hotel staffers and are investigating the matter. “We are worried about this report and take the incident very seriously. Our goal is to integrate, support and respect all our guests and employees no matter which religion they believe in.”
German prosecutors are also investigating Ofarim’s allegations, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
AFP also reported that one of the hotel staffers is pushing back against Ofarim’s allegations and filed a defamation claim against the singer. Ofarim is standing by his allegations, telling Spiegel Online: “I find it shameful and sad that I still have to justify and explain myself after such an incident.”
Jewish groups have condemned the alleged incident.
“Some might dismiss it as a small incident, but in reality, this is a stark reminder of the everyday, ugly #antisemitism that remains a persistent part of daily life for Jewish people in Germany, across Europe and regrettably in much of the world,” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted.
Some might dismiss it as a small incident, but in reality, this is a stark reminder of the everyday, ugly #antisemitism that remains a persistent part of daily life for Jewish people in Germany, across Europe and regrettably in much of the world. https://t.co/MKbLwP1D4f
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) October 5, 2021
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) has launched a petition urging Marriott to formally issue an apology to Ofarim.
“This blatantly antisemitic incident is sickening and unacceptable everywhere, but especially in Germany,” AJC Berlin Director Remko Leemhuis said in a statement. “It reminds us that antisemitism is a problem in all parts of society, not only in the extreme fringes. Marriott should take all necessary steps to ensure that something like this will never happen again. AJC stands ready to help with our expertise and knowledge.”
Ellie Cohanim, former Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, also tweeted to Marriott and Westin: “I would like to offer your employees training on #Antisemitism so that this hateful & discriminatory conduct never occurs again.”
Dear @Marriott @MarriottIntl & @Westin I would like to offer your employees training on #Antisemitism so that this hateful & discriminatory conduct never occurs again: https://t.co/lCEX53m6Ur
— Ellie Cohanim (@EllieCohanim) October 6, 2021
Around 600 people demonstrated in front of the hotel on the evening of October 5 to show support for Ofarim, The Algemeiner reported.
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