The violent attack last Saturday, in which the chief rabbi of Orléans, France, Rabbi Aryeh Engelberg, was assaulted in the middle of the street, has shocked the Jewish community in the city, which numbers about 200 Jewish families.
As previously reported, a difficult-to-watch video shows a 16-year-old Muslim youth brutally beating Rabbi Engelberg in front of his 9-year-old son with kicks, punches, and even biting the rabbi's shoulder. A complaint was filed and the attacker was arrested, but the incident has raised a red flag for the city's Jews, who have experienced very quiet years in terms of antisemitic incidents of this magnitude.
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
"According to the community president, they always had good relations with different segments of the population in the city, including Muslims," Rabbi Elie Kling, an expert on French Jewry who was born in the country and whose father was one of the chief rabbis in Lyon and Nice, told Israel Hayom. "There has never been such a case of violence, so they are somewhat in shock about it. He claims that like everywhere in Europe, there are instances of antisemitism, but it's no longer considered an issue."
What will be the implications for the atmosphere in the community going forward?
"It's too early to draw conclusions. They filed a complaint, and fortunately, there were cameras there, and they identified the young attacker very quickly."
Will people be afraid to walk in the street?
"They will be more cautious, yes, but they don't want to consider that everything will completely change there. They place their hope in the fact that this was an isolated incident in a quiet community."
"I reminded him about the 'Orléans rumors,'" Rabbi Kling recalled, "it was a scandal that erupted in 1969, according to which young girls and women who entered six clothing stores in the city (all Jewish-owned) disappeared. The city's residents believed that in the fitting rooms there was some sort of hidden shaft through which Jews transferred the women to traffic them and sell them to brothels. The rumors somehow subsided, and the media showed there was nothing to them, but many people believed it. I reminded him of this and said, 'Don't say there was never anything in Orléans.'"
How is the rabbi doing?
"He was bitten on the shoulder, and his hand is very swollen. He received minor medical treatment."
The migrant and Muslim population in France and Europe is only growing.
"Right, these are not incidents that will calm down, but only worsen. What has happened since October 7, in France at least, is that there is a significant recognition that there is no chance this will calm down. Jews throughout France are beginning to think, 'Is there a future for life here?'"
Meaning more and more Jews are considering leaving France?
"I can testify about what's happening with me. For 30 years, I've been managing a program for girls from France who come to Israel for Hebrew studies (ulpan), Judaism, Israeli heritage, knowledge of the land, and Bible study plus psychometric exams, and we've never had so many registrants. Currently, I'm already full for the next session. Regarding the older generation, I can't say, but regarding the youth – there is a great awakening of immigration to Israel."
"These fluctuations, and it's important for Israelis to understand this – are not just due to escaping antisemitism there, but also and mainly because of what's happening here. Since the beginning of the war, 'they don't want to miss out' on what's happening here. Jewish history is being written again now, and they want to feel solidarity with what's happening in Israel. But yes, antisemitism is also one of the factors."
Rabbi Elie Kling is the head of the "Hemdat Future Program" for young women immigrants from France at Hemdat Academic College for Education in Sdot Negev.
