Teenager Arrested for Antisemitic Attack on Rabbi in Orléans

The assault on Rabbi Arié Engelberg, who was walking with his son, has intensified calls to address rising antisemitism in France.

Rabbi Arié Engelberg was assaulted on Saturday in Orléans by a 16-year-old who hurled antisemitic insults, physically attacked him, and bit him on the shoulder.
The suspect, who reportedly used multiple identities, including Moroccan and Palestinian aliases, was arrested and transferred to a psychiatric facility.
French authorities are treating the incident as an antisemitic hate crime, with President Macron condemning the attack and describing antisemitism as a 'poison.'
The attack comes amid a broader rise in antisemitic incidents in France, with 1,570 acts recorded in 2024, representing 62% of religiously motivated hate crimes.
Solidarity marches are planned in Orléans and Paris as Jewish and political leaders call for stronger measures to combat antisemitism and protect vulnerable communities.