Chareidi Jew Assaulted And Injured By Local Drunk In Antwerp, Belgium

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NEW YORK (VINnews) — A drunk anti-Semitic thug assaulted and injured an elderly Jew returning from the central Belz synagogue in Antwerp, Belgium. A number of other members of the local chareidi community managed to catch the perpetrator and held him until the arrival of police. The event magnifies concerns felt by the Jewish community after the Belgian government recently announced that it is reducing military protection for local Jews despite a recent rise in anti-Semitic attacks after coronavirus and after Israel’s recent conflict with Hamas in the Gaza strip.

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The drunk struck Rabbi David Fink, a Belzer chassid in his 60’s, in the face while he was walking down the street, in an apparent anti-Semitic attack. Fink was bleeding from injuries sustained to the head and face and after first aid treatment at the scene was rushed to hospital. Members of the Hashmira chareidi security organization caught the perpetrator. While police were questioning bystanders about the attack, the attacker went wild in the police van, banging on the windows and screaming loudly. Police could not question him immediately because of his drunk state.

Local Hashomrim volunteer

The chareidi member of the Belgian parliament, Michael Freilich, who has been fighting over the past few weeks with the local government not to remove the military from Jewish educational institutions and synagogues, told B’Chadrei Chareidim that “I heard about this and saw the pictures. It is a great shock that Jews are being attacked in Antwerp because they are Jews. My message to the government is that this is not the time to reduce security to the Jewish community, especially with terror threats being issued.”

Freilich added that a meeting would be taking place between the Belgian Interior Minister and local Jewish leaders in an attempt to find a solution for securing local institutions.


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