Israeli Found Murdered in Berlin

A young man found beaten to death at a Berlin monastery a few days ago may be a 22 year old Israeli man.

Severe bruises on the body of the victim make it difficult for authorities to identify him. The victim was too badly beaten about the face to match to the passport photo. Reports indicate that near him was an Israeli passport.

A police source said that although the identity card was in his pocket, they are not sure it was the same person. Police have launched a comprehensive investigation of the circumstances of the case.

Reports said that the body was found at an abandoned monastery, with mostly old and homeless people, which makes it even harder to investigate the incident.

Chabad Shliach in Berlin Rabbi Yehuda Teichtel told COLlive that on Friday, the eve of Passover, the man was seen at the Chabad Center of East Berlin.

“He seemed like a very nice Jewish man, and showed no suspicious signs. He said that he had no place to eat and sleep and the local Shliach, Rabbi Natan Zuckerman, invited him to the Chabad House for the Seder, and paid for his lodging at a local guesthouse.”

“He said he would come later to the Seder, but the did not show up,” Teichtel said. “No one has any idea what could have happened to him.”

Rabbi Teichtel said that he would maintain constant contact with the embassy and security officials.