A horrifying attack in Orléans has caught the attention of French President Emmanuel Macron, after Rabbi Arié Engelberg was assaulted in broad daylight on Saturday. The rabbi, who was walking home from synagogue with his 9-year-old son, was brutally attacked by a 16-year-old who allegedly asked, “Are you Jewish?” before launching the attack.
Witnesses who were nearby reported seeing the assailant punch and bite Engelberg, hitting him on the head and shoulder. One witness, Yann Chailloux, who had been out walking his dog, described the moment: “I thought it was a fight between two drivers, but when I got closer, I saw someone attacking the rabbi. It was a chaotic moment, but then others stepped in to help.”
The rabbi’s traditional Jewish hat was kicked away during the assault, signaling the targeted nature of the attack. After the incident, Engelberg’s assailant fled the scene but was later arrested when authorities used video footage to track him down. The suspect, who allegedly identified as Palestinian, is still under investigation as his identity and nationality are being confirmed.
The attack has been widely condemned as an act of antisemitism, and President Macron quickly responded, calling antisemitism “poisonous” and vowing that France would not tolerate silence or inaction on the matter.
The incident has sparked outrage across the nation. Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF), called the attack “cowardly and violent.” A march to denounce antisemitism is now being planned for March 25, 2025, in Orléans.
This troubling incident serves as a painful reminder of the need for vigilance against hate in all its forms, and for France to continue standing firm in the face of such attacks.
