Another antisemitic incident in Canada: On Friday night at around 9:45 p.m., a man was filmed attempting to snatch shtreimel, a traditional Hasidic fur hat, from the head of a Jewish man leaving a synagogue in Montreal.
In the footage, the suspect is seen exiting a black car, approaching the man from behind and repeatedly trying to pull the hat off his head. The victim managed to avoid the attempts, while several other members of the Hasidic community who witnessed the incident ran toward the suspect, causing him to flee. The video later shows him passing near another group of Hasidic men, who appear alarmed by his presence.
A Jewish man attacked in Canada
(Video: From Instagram)
According to local Jewish community reports, after several unsuccessful attempts, the suspect managed to steal two of the fur hats from other Hasidic men and fled.
The incident has raised concern among members of Montreal’s Jewish community. Community members called on anyone with information that could help identify the suspect or assist in the investigation to contact authorities.
The fur hat involved in the incident is known as a shtreimel, a traditional item of clothing worn by married men in many Hasidic Jewish communities, a branch of Orthodox Judaism. It is typically worn on the Shabbat, Jewish holidays and family celebrations. The hats are custom-made from fur, often costing thousands of dollars, and are considered both a religious garment and a marker of community identity.
The suspect managed to steal two of the fur hats from other Hasidic men and fled
(Photo: From Instagram)
The incident comes amid a series of recent antisemitic events reported in Canada. Last week, a Jewish man wearing a kippah, was attacked in Toronto. Police arrested the suspect, who reportedly claimed to be a Houthi from Yemen.