Antisemitic assault on rabbi Engelberg in Orléans: “No, antisemitism is not residual”

Photo credit : ©JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP

Illustration: Photograph taken on Sunday March 23rd 2025 in the city center of Orleans, where the rabbi of Orleans was violently molested the day before.

As he was leaving the synagogue, Arie Engelberg was hit, insulted and bitten in the street in front of his nine year old son, by a teenager who then fled after a man intervened.

Crif president Yonathan Arfi brought his support to the rabbi of Orléans and reminded that “antisemitism in France is not residual”.

“Those who minimize, those who put things in perspective or justify jews’ hatred by the conflict that is 4 000 kilometers away from us bear a huge responsibility.” added Arfi.

In an interview for RMC, Crif president reminded that “there is a harmful climate that has been installed in our country since October 7th [...]
Antisemitism is nowadays encapsulated in antizionism and in Israel’s hatred and today, the conflict between Israel and Hamas is used as a pretext for taking action against the jews.

"It will never be possible to put a police officer behind every jew" Yonathan Arfi

"And sadly, this reality is all the more true in the youngest age classes. I am not surprised that it was a 16 or 17 year old who took action in Orleans.” underlined Arfi.

Arie Engelberg pressed charges and the investigation is ongoing. 

Sunday evening, a rally against antisemitism and in support of the rabbi of Orléans was organized by the French Union of Jewish Students (UEJF) and held Place de la Bastille, in Paris. Crif president was present during that rally and reminded RCJ radio that “what happened in Orléans should alert every French citizen. There is a need for security but it will never be possible to put a police officer behind every jew: Above all, this should be a call for a resurgence of citizen awareness. Antisemitism starts with the jews but never ends with them.”