Rabbi of Orléans Attacked in Suspected Antisemitic Assault

A 16-year-old suspect is in custody as investigations continue into the violent attack on Rabbi Arié Engelberg and his son in Orléans.

Rabbi Arié Engelberg was attacked on March 22, 2025, while walking home from the synagogue with his 9-year-old son.
The attacker, reportedly a 16-year-old, asked if the rabbi was Jewish before insulting, hitting, and biting him.
The suspect, who has used multiple identities, was arrested later that evening and remains in custody as police investigate a potential hate crime motive.
The incident has drawn condemnation from political leaders, including President Emmanuel Macron, who decried antisemitism as a 'poison.'
A march against antisemitism and in support of the rabbi is planned for March 25, 2025, in Orléans, as the Jewish community and wider public express solidarity.