B’nai B’rith Europe is appalled by the depiction of orthodox Jews standing on sacks of money at the occasion of the annual carnival in the town of Aalst, Belgium.

The float, titled “Shabbat Year,” was prepared by the Vismooil’n carnival group.

It featured two giant puppets, depicting orthodox Jews complete with traditional side-curls, in pink suits, standing amidst bags of money.

In 2013, the same carnival event featured a caricature of the Holocaust. The FTP group, who designed the float, marched dressed as Nazi SS officers and Haredi Orthodox Jews.  UNESCO condemned that offensive display.

The European Commission called on the Belgian authorities to take action. Spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said: “It should be obvious to all that portraying such representations in the streets of Europe is absolutely unthinkable, 74 years after the Holocaust.”

Serge Dahan, President of B’nai B’rith Europe urges the Belgian authorities to quickly react to this ugly display of antisemitism and to take concrete measures to prevent and forbid the inclusion of hate in this annual public event.