Security cameras in Antwerp captured a man following an ultra-Orthodox man and violently knocking his hat off of his head. The incident was reported by evening news programs in Belgium, and police said the incident was being investigated.
The man, believed to be Muslim, had been previously recorded destroying at least 20 mezuzahs and vandalizing the entrances to Jewish institutions in the city, JTA reported. (A mezuzah is a small case, traditionally attached to the entrance of Jewish-owned homes, containing parchment on which biblical passages are written.) He also placed a Quran outside a synagogue and yelled at a Jewish passerby that "this is our land, Palestine!"
A poll published last month revealed that half of Europe's Jews hide their religion while out in public.
When asked how safe they felt wearing clothing or symbols that identified them as Jewish, such as a kippah or a Star of David, or using their Jewish names, 51% of Jews living in Europe said they felt unsafe doing so, twice the number of North American respondents who said they felt unsafe wearing items that identified them as Jews.
