Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

Belgian Jews

Belgian police man the perimeter around a synagogue on Leon Fredericq street after it was struck overnight by a blast in Liege on March 9, 2026. (JOHN THYS / AFP)
March 18, 2026, 4:25 pm
After synagogue attacks, Belgium sending soldiers to guard Jewish neighborhoods
Troops will be deployed at two dozen sites in the wake of explosions last week at Jewish institutions in Liège and the Dutch cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam
By Zev Stub
Belgian police conduct their investigation outside a synagogue that was his by a blast overnight in Liege, Belgium, March 9, 2026. (John Thys/AFP)
March 9, 2026, 11:04 am
Synagogue in Belgium damaged in blast, no injuries; mayor: ‘Violent act of antisemitism’
Counter-terror police investigating Liege explosion; mayor says ‘there can be no question of importing external conflicts’; house of worship also serves as Jewish community museum
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Illustrative photo of a ritual circumcision (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 14, 2025, 6:52 pm
Belgium’s Jewish community on edge after police raids on illegal circumcisions
Police in Antwerp looking for rabbis conducting the religious rite without medical license; Jewish group says raids part of larger campaign of intimidation against Jews in Belgium
By Zev Stub
The author Herman Brusselmans is seen at a soccer game in Gent, Belgium, in February 2016. (VI Images via Getty Images/JTA)
August 9, 2024, 8:18 am
Belgian author sued for writing he wants to ram ‘knife through throat of every Jew I meet’
Herman Brusselmans declares he is filled with rage every time he sees a Jew on the street due to war in Gaza; he and magazine defend article as satirical
By Shira Li Bartov
Ephraim Mol gives his testimony to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial center, published June 27, 2021. (YouTube screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
April 21, 2023, 3:08 pm
Holocaust survivor slated to recite prayer at Yad Vashem ceremony dies at 85
Ephraim Mol collapsed, suffered stroke day before Yom Hashoah; born in Belgium, he was separated from parents while fleeing Nazis, hidden in Paris for duration of war
By Michael Horovitz
Kevin Janssens (left) and Robbie Cleiren as Noah and Eli Wolfson in the Netflix thriller 'Rough Diamonds.' (Netflix)
April 21, 2023, 5:14 am
‘Godfather’ meets ‘Shtisel’: New Netflix thriller delves into Haredi diamond dealers
‘Rough Diamonds,’ an Israeli-Belgian co-production, tells a tale of an Antwerp Hasidic family struggling to keep its business alive as it is drawn deeper into the underworld
By Amy Spiro
The repair shop of Ludo Eyckmans in Stabroek, Belgium. (Google Maps)
April 13, 2022, 2:21 am
Belgian mechanic says he won’t service Jews’ cars due to Israel’s Ukraine stance
Local Jewish group says it will take legal action against Stabroek repair shop owner Ludo Eyckmans
By Cnaan Liphshiz
The statue "Latvian Beehive" in Zedelgem, Belgium. (Okupacijas Muzejs via JTA)
August 12, 2021, 6:09 am
Belgian town square to remove references to Nazi collaborators after uproar
Following allegations that Briviba Square honored Latvian soldiers part of Nazi SS forces, site will get new name; plaque about ‘Latvian Beehive’ will be taken down
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Health care workers wait to administer nose-swab tests at the mobile COVID-19 testing site in Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 20, 2020 (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
February 6, 2021, 5:50 am
At Antwerp Haredi school, non-Jewish staff strike on failure to virus-test kids
Teachers at girls’ department of the Jesode Hatora Beth Jacob school stop working, citing failure of some parents to test children for the coronavirus to teachers’ satisfaction
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Illustrative: A butcher in Jerusalem, April 26, 2010. (Abir Sultan/Flash90)
December 18, 2020, 3:25 am
Israel, Jewish groups blast EU court ruling against kosher and halal slaughter
European Court of Justice says authorities can effectively ban religious ritual slaughter; Israeli Foreign Ministry says decision sends ‘a harsh message to all European Jewry’
By AFP and ToI Staff
Illustrative image of a man preparing meat at a kosher slaughterhouse (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
December 17, 2020, 12:59 pm
EU court rules authorities can ban kosher and halal slaughter in Belgian region
European Jewish groups decry ruling, say it puts ‘animal welfare above… freedom of religion’; Israel: Decision signals to Jewish communities that they aren’t wanted in Europe
By AFP and ToI Staff
The Antwerp Central Synagogue in Antwerp, Belgium. (Wikimedia Public Domain)
December 12, 2020, 8:25 am
Belgian court reverses virus ban on houses of worship, following Jewish petition
Nation has world’s highest reported death rate from COVID-19 per million inhabitants; Jewish umbrella group welcomes ruling, saying restrictions unfair if museums, pools are open
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Belgian Minister of Cooperation Development and Finance, Alexander De Croo, right, and Belgian francophone Socialist Party chairman, Paul Magnette attend a media conference at the Egmont Palace in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Almost 500 days after Belgian parliamentary elections, seven parties from both sides of the linguistic border have agreed on forming a fully functioning majority government that will center on dealing with the pandemic and its devastating economic impact. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
September 30, 2020, 11:24 pm
Incoming Belgian government on collision course with Israel, local Jews say
New 7-party coalition ‘will try to shut down all little dialogue left between both countries,’ one Brussels resident warns
By Raphael Ahren
Illustrative: Ultra-Orthodox Jews walk in Antwerp, Belgium, March 16, 2016. (Cnaan Liphshiz)
June 17, 2020, 10:50 am
Antwerp’s Orthodox Jews defy own prediction, weather pandemic surprisingly well
Some credit swift action by rabbis, others the unified communal response; whatever the cause, the 20,000-strong community avoided Belgium’s highest per capita death rate globally
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Illutrative: Belgian drinkers enjoying Ginger Tipple, a kosher for Passover beer. (Courtesy Ginger Tipple)
April 12, 2020, 1:27 pm
A hametz-free Passover doesn’t mean you have to give up beer
Lines of kosher for Passover beers, now available in Israel, offer brews that are free of barley and malt and rich with ginger or date honey
By Jessica Steinberg
Load More
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.