Water Balloon Attack on Rabbi in Ashdod Damages His Shtreimel

A Hasidic rabbi was attacked with water balloons by three minors on electric scooters in Ashdod on Saturday evening, October 21. The incident occurred around 7:15 PM as the rabbi, from the Belz Hasidic community, was walking home from evening prayers on Buskila Street in the G' quarter. The three youths, riding scooters without license plates, approached him from behind and began throwing water balloons. After two initial throws missed, a third balloon struck the rabbi directly in the face, soaking and completely ruining his shtreimel, a traditional fur hat worn by some Orthodox Jewish men. The attackers, who fled the scene quickly on their scooters, accompanied the act with curses and laughter. "The entire shtreimel got wet to the sound of the antisemitic hooligans' rolling laughter," the victim told the "Ashdod News" website. He added that after returning to his synagogue and sharing the incident, he learned it was not an isolated event. Other worshippers reported that this is a recurring phenomenon of harassment against Haredim and vandalism in the area, which has been ongoing for about six months. "After hearing that this is not the first time residents have been attacked on this street, I am afraid to walk there. Things like this must not continue to happen," he stated. Following the accumulation of harassment incidents, residents of the neighborhood are now calling for the police and municipal enforcement agencies to intervene immediately. They demand that security camera footage from Buskila Street, particularly near the adjacent state religious elementary school, be collected and reviewed to identify the suspects and stop the dangerous behavior towards passersby.