European floats depict vermin, chimneys, poison gas, bags of money … The carnivals mocking ultra-Orthodox Jews and even victims of the Holocaust were all in good fun—the “just kidding” of kitsch without any malignant intent. Honestly, can’t Jews take a joke? Thane Rosenbaum March 2, 2020
Lapid reprimands Belgian ambassador over anti-Semitic carnival in Aalst B’nai B’rith International also bashed the Feb. 23 parade: “Mocking religious Jews identifies them as targets for ridicule, abuse and hate.” Feb. 24, 2020
UNESCO removes Belgium carnival with anti-Semitic float from heritage list Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz said in a statement that he welcomes UNESCO’s “moral and principled decision.” Dec. 16, 2019
‘Game of Thrones’ actor cancels talk in Belgium over offensive parade floats Carice van Houten and her associate, Halina Reijn pulled out of a panel discussion for the show “The Appointment” after discovering that it would host Aalst Mayor Christoph D’Haese, who has denied that the caricatures at his city’s annual carnival are anti-Semitic. Dec. 5, 2019
Belgium’s first female prime minister is also Jewish In recent years, the country has seen an increase in anti-Semitism and even physical attacks on Jews. Oct. 29, 2019
Belgium’s carnival of hatred is still going strong In recent years, organizers have had some fun by conjuring up the most horrendous stereotypes in the form of oversized puppets of Orthodox Jews complete with side curls and hooked noses. Ben Cohen Oct. 28, 2019
EU Jewish leader calls on UNESCO to act against anti-Semitic caricatures at festival The caricatures, which feature Orthodox Jews with red, hooked noses and golden teeth, were printed on ribbons for participants. Oct. 23, 2019
