Recent unrest in France has prompted concerns for the Jewish community, leading to calls to conceal visible signs of Jewish identity and avoid public gatherings. Some congregations canceled Saturday afternoon prayers due to escalating violence during nationwide protests.
Samuel Arrouas, a French Jewish community member, shared the alarming precaution: “Lots of synagogues sent out emails to their people saying, ‘We’re canceling Mincha on Shabbat afternoon. Please don’t go out. It’s going to be dangerous.'” The Mincha is the Jewish afternoon prayer service. Arrouas relocated to Israel before the protests but expressed surprise at the severity of the messages, stating, “I’m 40 years old. First time I heard this.”
“I’m 40 years old. First time I heard this.” – Samuel Arrouas
Warnings also emphasized not wearing kippahs or tzitzit in public. Worshipers were strongly advised to leave immediately after services. Arrouas described encountering masked demonstrators with Palestinian flags near Paris Dauphine University, intensifying fears in the Jewish community.
The protests, involving about 550,000 people, were largely against fuel prices, living costs, and declining public services. Demonstrations turned violent, leading to clashes with police and widespread property damage. The Interior Ministry reported around 2,400 arrests.
President Emmanuel Macron urged calm and order, distinguishing between legitimate demands and the destructive actions of rioters. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation, which was declined by Macron.
Shannon Seban, director of European affairs at the Combat Antisemitism Movement, noted the troubling presence of Palestinian flags at protests. She questioned how such symbols related to domestic issues.
Seban warned of rhetoric advocating for the globalization of conflict, linking it to antisemitic conspiracy theories proliferating online. “At the Combat Antisemitism Movement, we documented 1,384 antisemitic posts in just two days,” she stated, underscoring the growing threat to Jewish safety.
In Marseille, Bruno Benjamin from the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions highlighted the extensive business damage and community anxiety. “Several hundred shops were ransacked, vandalized, and looted,” he noted.
The SPCJ, France’s Jewish community security organization, urged caution in attributing vandalism motives to antisemitism without clear evidence. Despite synagogue break-ins and vandalism in Paris, motives remain undetermined.
The U.S. State Department’s Level 2 travel advisory already recommends increased caution due to terrorism and unrest in France. Rising insecurity and antisemitism are causing some French Jews to consider emigration, though many remain committed to staying.
Bearing significant responsibility for the tense climate, Seban attributed the blame to the political rhetoric of factions like La France Insoumise. The need to combat antisemitism and ensure Jewish safety in France remains crucial.
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