Fury over Nazi caricature of Jews on float at Belgian carnival
Jewish groups left aghast after float features two Orthodox men with sidelocks and exaggerated crooked noses - surrounded by coins and money bags -
A parade float that depicts “Nazi-style” Jewish caricatures standing atop piles of cash has unleashed a storm of controversy after it was paraded through a Belgian city centre.
The design featured two men with sidelocks and exaggerated crooked noses wearing streimels, a fur hat favoured by some Orthodox Jews. One is smoking a cigar and appears to have a rat on his shoulder, and both are surrounded by coins and money bags.
The float, created by the Vismooil’n group, was paraded over the weekend through the city of Aalst, roughly 20 miles west of Brussels, as part of an annual carnival that also featured men in KKK-like robes.
A spokesman for Belgium’s Forum of Jewish Organisations said: “The caricatures, like those of Der Stürmer, of Jews with a crooked nose and suitcases, are typical of the Nazism of 1939.
“In a democratic country like Belgium this has no place in 2019, carnival or not. The Jewish community accepts humour, this is very important in a society, but there are limits that can not be exceeded.”
FJO secretary general Laure Lachman said: “Such a display hasn’t really been seen anywhere else [in modern times].”
The Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organisations in Belgium called on carnival chiefs to denounce the float. “At best it is a lack of discernment, especially given the rising context of antisemitism in our country and in the world,” said a spokesperson. “At worst, it is the reproduction of antisemitic caricatures worthy of the Nazi era.”
The float’s appearance coincides with a rising tide of antisemitism sweeping Europe and European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas called on the Belgian authorities to take action.
“It should be obvious to all that portraying such representations in the streets of Europe is absolutely unthinkable, 74 years after the Holocaust,” he said.
Vismooil’n told a Belgian blogger last month the float addressed the impact of rising prices.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
