NEW YORK (VINnews) — The rabbi of the French town of Orléans, Rabbi Arié Engelberg, was violently assaulted on Saturday as he was returning from his synagogue accompanied by his nine-year-old son.
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According to a video showing the incident that was viewed by local media, the attacker began harassing the rabbi, filming and insulting him.
When asked to stop, the 16-year-old struck him on the head, bit his shoulder, and then kicked and punched him on the ground. It was only once a passerby intervened that the assault ended, allowing the rabbi to walk away while the assailant fled.
Rabbi Engelberg immediately filed a complaint at the Orléans police station. The public prosecutor, Emmanuelle Bochenek-Puren, confirmed that he had launched an investigation into the “intentional violence committed due to the real or presumed religious affiliation of the victim.” The aggressor is still actively being sought by the police.
Le Ministre israélien des Affaires étrangères, Gideon Sa’ar :
« Choqué par l'agression du Grand Rabbin d'Orléans, Aryeh Engelberg, aux côtés de son fils. Je lui adresse nos vœux de prompt rétablissement.
Il s'agit d'un acte ignoble et intolérable.
La résurgence de… https://t.co/5ukgceD2jx— Ambassade d'Israël en France (@IsraelenFrance) March 23, 2025
This attack has deeply shocked the local community. “There is currently a toxic and clearly antisemitic atmosphere in France, but I did not think that it would contaminate Orleans, which is a peaceful city,” said Eliane Klein, local president of the respresentative council of French institutions (CRIF).
“Until now, we occasionally had graffiti, at most. I was hoping that this scourge would not reach Orléans. That’s why it’s all the more shocking,” she added, highlighting the unprecedented nature of such antisemitic violence in the city.
WATCH: Rabbi Aryeh Engelberg, 45, the chief rabbi of Orléans (France) being violently attacked in front of his son while walking home from synagogue on Saturday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/WwItizbH2q
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) March 23, 2025
France is a disgusting country. They do not care about fighting anti-Semitism.
Much holy Jewish blood has been spilled there .
And meanwhile Macron is yukking it up with those Arab dogs in Saudi Arabia.