Chabad Rabbi Attacked in Orléans for Being Jewish

On Shabbos afternoon, Rabbi Aryeh Engelberg, shliach and rabbi of a small, close-knit community in Orléans, France, was attacked while walking home from Shul with his 9-year-old son, sustaining light injuries. The suspect has been apprehended, and French authorities have condemned the attack.

By Anash.org Reporter

On Shabbos afternoon, Rabbi Aryeh Engelberg, shliach and rabbi of Orléans, France, was attacked while walking home from Shul with his 9-year-old son after the attacker confirmed he was Jewish.

Rabbi Aryeh Engelberg has been a key leader of the Orléans Jewish community since 2018. Serving as the community’s rabbi, he plays a vital role in sustaining Jewish life in the area, which is home to an estimated 400 people. His efforts include organizing Torah study programs, providing access to kosher meat, leading Shul services, preparing youth for bar mitzvahs, and offering various other religious and communal support.

While walking home from Shul on Shabbos, shortly after the conclusion of davening around 1:30 PM, Rabbi Engelberg was approached by a 16-year-old suspect, described as being of North African descent. The attacker, who reportedly claimed to be Palestinian—though this remains unverified—asked, “Are you Jewish?” before launching a violent assault. He kicked and punched Rabbi Engelberg and bit him on the shoulder, also causing head injuries. The attack was captured on video, showing the rabbi being punched and a passerby stepping in to defend him by blocking the blows. The intervention forced the attacker to flee the scene.

A witness was just a few dozen meters away when he heard the screams. “I immediately understood, I immediately recognized the rabbi, especially his hat, which the assailant had thrown with a kick. There is no doubt, regarding the insults he received, that it was antisemitism,” the witness recounted. “We told the rabbi, don’t wait, we’ll call the police immediately.” According to witnesses, the assailant first asked the victim if he was Jewish before hitting him.

French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the incident in a Sunday post: “The assault on Rabbi Arié Engelberg in Orléans shocks us all. I extend my full support, as well as that of the Nation, to him, his son, and all our fellow citizens of the Jewish faith. Antisemitism is a poison. We will not give in to silence or inaction.”

Serge Grouard, the mayor of Orléans and former member of Les Républicains, wrote on X: “It is inconceivable that in France, in the twenty-first century, a man can be targeted because he is Jewish. This violence has no place in our society.” He further condemned the attack as “a serious attack on the values of our Republic,” adding that “certain parties and political leaders, through their complicit silence or shocking statements, legitimize this tragic drift.”

Joëlle Gellert, president of the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism in the Loiret region, expressed outrage: “We are appalled, scandalized. Racism is not an opinion but a crime.” She indicated that Licra will be a civil party in the upcoming legal proceedings and that discussions are already underway to “express indignation” against this act.

Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF), expressed support for Rabbi Engelberg, describing the attack as “cowardly and violent.”

Eliane Klein, President of CRIF for France’s central region, called the incident “appalling” and noted: “There is currently a poisonous and clearly antisemitic atmosphere in France, but I didn’t think it would contaminate Orléans, which is a peaceful city. Until now, we had graffiti from time to time, at most. I hoped that this gangrene wouldn’t spread to Orléans. That’s why it’s all the more shocking.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar wrote “This is a vile and intolerable act. The resurgence of antisemitism in France and across Europe is not only alarming – it is a wake-up call to European governments, leaders, and civil society. Antisemitism is dangerous, and it demands an uncompromising response.

Police arrested the 16-year-old suspect around 9:45 PM the same day. The suspect was apprehended by officers of the BAC (anti-crime brigade) and placed in police custody. According to a police source who spoke to Valeurs, the suspect is described as “North African” by the victim and reportedly claimed to be Palestinian, though this has not been verified. The suspect, aged 16, has no prior criminal record according to some reports, though other sources indicate he was reportedly known to the TAJ (police records) but was not known to intelligence services.

The public prosecutor of Orléans told France 3 Centre-Val de Loire that an investigation has been opened into “intentional violence committed because of the victim’s real or supposed religious affiliation.”

Rabbi Engelberg shares his weekly Dvar Torah on his YouTube channel: @arieengelberg756.

You can support his community by making a donation here: allodons.fr/acio.

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