French Rabbi Attacked in Orleans: Suspect Arrested Amid Rising Concerns

[Social Media]

 

A 16-year-old boy of Palestinian descent was arrested on Saturday for allegedly assaulting a rabbi in front of the rabbi’s son in Orléans, about 75 miles southwest of Paris, an incident that has sparked strong condemnation, including from French President Emmanuel Macron. The attack, which took place over the weekend, has been described as violent and deeply disturbing, particularly as it happened in front of the rabbi’s young son.

💢Shocking antisemitic attack on Orléans Rabbi in front of a young son by a 16-year-old with Palestinian roots

𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗦▸ https://t.co/PiECOAIKYi pic.twitter.com/acShq1mU8o

— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) March 23, 2025

 

According to reports, the attacker struck the rabbi on the head, bit him on the shoulder, and hurled insults at him as he walked home from the synagogue with his nine-year-old son. "Anti-Semitism is a poison," Macron declared on social media, expressing his solidarity with the rabbi’s family and the wider Jewish community in France.

 

 

Rabbi Arie Engelberg, who serves the Jewish community in Orleans, was reportedly hit on the cheek and shoulder blade. The local prosecutor, Emmanuelle Bochenek-Puren, confirmed that the suspect was in police custody but had no identification documents at the time of his arrest.

 

Authorities are working to verify his identity, as he is believed to have used multiple aliases, including one Moroccan and two Palestinian names.

 

France is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel and the United States, as well as the European Union's largest Muslim community. Since the events of October 7, several EU nations have reported a sharp increase in both anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents, according to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

 

Andre Druon, a leader in the Jewish community of Orleans, noted that while there had been some instances of graffiti since October 7, there had been no prior violent attacks until now. "The attack on the rabbi was very violent," he said, adding that Rabbi Engelberg was visibly shaken when he recounted the incident to the community.

 

Witness accounts suggest that the assault escalated after an individual began filming the rabbi. When the religious leader asked him to stop recording, the situation turned violent. A local locksmith, Yann Dhieux, intervened, attempting to stop the attack. "It was shocking to see the rabbi being attacked in front of his young son," Dhieux said.

 

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed his dismay over the incident, calling for "zero tolerance for anti-Semitism." The attack comes amid troubling statistics from France’s interior ministry, which recorded 1,570 anti-Semitic acts last year—accounting for 62% of all religiously motivated hate crimes in the country.

 

As investigations continue, the attack has reignited concerns over the safety of Jewish communities in France, with leaders calling for stronger measures to combat rising anti-Semitic violence.

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph | JNS  2025-03-25

 

 

[JonnyF]

Shocking.

 

But depressingly predictable.