Montreal man tried to knock shtreimel from Hasidic man’s head, stole two others

Advocacy groups documented 6,800 antisemitic incidents in Canada, marking the third consecutive annual increase.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A man in Montreal was caught on security video repeatedly attempting to pull a traditional fur hat from the head of a Hasidic Jewish man before allegedly stealing the same type of hat from two other men later the same day during the Jewish Sabbath.

The incident unfolded Friday as a black car drove behind one of the victims.

Video footage showed a man getting out of the vehicle and making several attempts to remove the victim’s shtreimel, a fur hat traditionally worn by many married Hasidic Jewish men on Shabbat, Jewish holidays and other festive occasions.

The victim managed to avoid losing his hat despite repeated attempts by the suspect. A passerby then pursued the assailant, who fled the scene.

Authorities said the suspect later succeeded in taking two shtreimels from other men in the area.

The incident comes as Jewish organizations have reported a continued rise in antisemitic activity across Canada.

Advocacy groups documented 6,800 antisemitic incidents nationwide, marking the third consecutive annual increase.

According to those organizations, the trend has included widespread online harassment as well as a sharp increase in acts of targeted violence.

Montreal has experienced several recent incidents affecting the Jewish community. Swastikas were spray-painted on Jewish-owned businesses in the Saint-Laurent borough, while two Jewish institutions were targeted in separate firebombing attacks.

Among them was Congregation Beth Tikvah in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, which sustained significant damage in what was described as a major arson attack.

The attempted thefts occurred during Shabbat, when many observant Jewish men wear the shtreimel as part of traditional Sabbath attire.

The distinctive wide-brimmed fur hat is reserved for Shabbat, Jewish holidays and other celebratory occasions and is widely recognized as a symbol of Hasidic Jewish religious practice.

No information was provided regarding arrests or possible charges related to Friday’s incident.