A Jewish effigy has been hanged and burned as part of an Easter ritual in Poland, an incident condemned as “deeply disturbing” by the Jewish community.

The World Jewish Congress voiced “disgust and outrage” after a sculpture made to look like a stereotypical Jew set alight in the Polish town of Pruchnik on Good Friday.

Hundreds of residents, including children, were said to have taken part, reportedly beating and burning the effigy representing Judas, the disciple of Christ who betrayed him, according to the New Testament.

Poles also expressed their disgust at the revival of the antisemitic ritual, with many posting photos online of the same ritual being carried out before the Second World War.

Robert Singer, chief executive of the World Jewish Congress, said: “Jews are deeply disturbed by this ghastly revival of medieval antisemitism that led to unimaginable violence and suffering.

Protests against Labour antisemitism Show all 14 1 /14 Protests against Labour antisemitism Protests against Labour antisemitism Protesters clashed during the demonstration Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Members of the Jewish community hold a protest against Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism in the Labour Party AFP/Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism Protesters hold placards and flags during a demonstration, organised by the British Board of Jewish Deputies for those who oppose antisemitism, in Parliament Square Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Hundreds of people gathered in Parliament Square to protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party EPA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour MP Luciana Berger speaks during the protest PA Protests against Labour antisemitism A protester blows through a shofar during the demonstration Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism Members of London's Jewish community protest in support of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn outside parliament EPA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour MP John Mann speaks during a protest against antisemitism PA Protests against Labour antisemitism People protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party as Jewish community leaders have launched a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn, claiming he has sided with antisemites ‘again and again’ PA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour politicians Stella Creasy and Chuka Umunna leave after attending the demonstration Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism A pro-Jeremy Corbyn protester holds a placard during a counter-protest Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism A support of the Labour Party hold up a placard during the demonstration Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Jeremy Corbyn supporters during the demo Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism A protester holds up a sign reading ‘For the many, not the Jew’ AFP

“One can only wonder how John Paul II, who taught Catholics in his native Poland and all over the world, that antisemitism is a sin against God and man would have reacted to this flagrant rejection of his teachings.”