Israeli Haredi Man Found on Antwerp Train Taken to Psychiatric Hospital

Last week, an elderly Israeli Haredi man in his 70s was found on a train in the Antwerp area after fellow passengers realized he was not well. They tried to speak with him and determine whether he needed medical help, but he could not communicate because he speaks only Hebrew.

Passengers called police, who took him to a hospital in the city. Doctors there concluded the problem was likely psychiatric and transferred him to a psychiatric hospital in Antwerp. Police and the hospital then contacted Shmuel Markowitz, head of the local Hatzalah organization.

Volunteers from the Chaverim group in the city went to the psychiatric hospital to check on him and get an update on his condition. On Friday evening, they brought him kosher food and made sure he was being properly cared for.

It is still unclear how he got there, whether he has family in Belgium, or whether anyone in Israel is looking for him. The Jewish community, together with local authorities, is now trying to determine what can be done for him and how to bring him back to Israel. Community sources said he does not communicate or cooperate, and his Israeli passport was found on him.