The invention of a human-hair kippah — to enable Jews to hide their faith while walking in dangerous areas — has come under fire.

Shalom Koresh, a hairdresser from Rehovot in Israel, came up with the kippah (pictured below) after seeing rising antisemitism in Europe.

He said: “People told me about how their guides in Europe told them not to wear a kippah while walking around. It was created so people could feel comfortable going to places where they are afraid to go.”

However, Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers, community educator at the Movement for Reform Judaism, said the invention exploited the current climate of fear: “It’s not only taking advantage, it’s making it worse.

“He’s encouraging people to inhabit that space of fear which, actually, if they were to just go out and about in their kippot, wouldn’t be a reality most of the time.”