In certain Brussels districts, for example, the cobblestones of memory, which bear the names of Jewish victims of Nazism, are sometimes tagged with pro-Gaza messages. Proof of this discomfort, very rare are the Jews living in Brussels who still dare to walk with a kippah on their heads, as someone could do another religion. It is only only arriving in the synagogue or in Jewish schools that practitioners dare to put on the cap.
According to Unia, anti-Semitic acts increased particularly in Belgium after October 7, 2023. A report published on Wednesday by anti-de-de-de-de-de-de-law (ADL), based in the United States, indicates that violent anti-Semitic incidents have increased spectacular in Europe.Posters denounced anti -Semitism torn from the ULB: “The university voluntarily ignores the realities that we live”
Midi station, the racist insult slams: “dirty Jew”
Do those who are ostentatiously distinguished as being Jews become persona non grata in town? The DH wanted to be clear. With a kippah on the head, we walked for three hours in the heart of Brussels and crossed the popular districts renowned, perhaps wrongly, to be unwelcome to people of Jewish faith. This is an experience that we had already made in 2015. At the time, our journalist had not pointed out any incident. No insults, no invective. 10 years later, things have changed.
We left for tram from the commune of Uccle, where, except for some looks which had a more stylistic than Ideal question, we went unnoticed. Arrived at the Gare du Midi, in Saint-Gilles, the first invective. Leaving the building, a young man backed by the door crosses our eyes, observes us, then lets go in our way a “dirty Jew!” icing and loaded with contempt. “It starts well,” we internalize, a bit nervous.
We then headed suddenly less serene towards the scholarship, crossing the working -class districts that are rue du Midi, Anneessens and Boulevard Anspach. But, with the exception of a few discreet looks and a request for money for a sandwich, nothing to report.
We continue our journey to the Gare du Nord crossing Place de Brouckère and the trading artery crowded from rue Neuve. No incident, if we except this gale to Rogier who forces us to run to catch up on our kippah.With the rise of anti -Semitism, the Jews no longer feel safe: “There is a climate hostile to the Jews of Belgium”
-The Gare du Nord’s exit was the moment we are apprehensive. Rue d’Aerschot, clusters of individuals with the patibular mine to slar in front of the bars where sex workers are exposed in light outfits. Kippa always screwed onto the skull, we are rolling out in an uncertain step in this section which leads to Liedts. And here is a gust of gale again takes our little cap. A young person wearing a Louis Vuitton type cap to help us catch her, but a man with the salient muscles grabs her before him. He stretches it politely to us before resuming his discussion in Arabic.
Rue du Brabant, nothing to report, if not this car which lets us pass with a “shalom” courteous. Another passerby will give us a “shalom” during a break at the Gare du Nord. While we take notes, an individual on scooter approaches and advises us, in English, to be discreet. “Be careful with your kippah! There are radical Muslims here”he whispers, before explaining that as gay, he dares not walk hand in hand with his companion.
By going beyond the count of Flanders, in Molenbeek, a driver lets us pass before sending, the teeth tight at the sight of our Jewish cap, a “Israeli” with a very bitter tone. In the town square, sellers are storing market stalls in their truck. On our passage, one of them shouts “Palestine, Palestine”.
The rest of the journey to the Clémenceau metro station in Anderlecht, will go smoothly.
Discreet kippa
Obviously, this urban walk does not have an absolute sociological value. Crossing neighborhoods at lunch is not the same thing as spending in the evening. Our kippah was also very discreet. Circulating a few hours is not the same as living daily in this atmosphere.
However, we were more worried before leaving than after because many people had recommended, for our safety, not to have this experience. The few invectives we have undergone tense us, but the courtesy marks reassured us. It is however regrettable that wearing a kippah is still immediately associated with the Israeli-Pale conflict
