A rabbi in Normandy was physically assaulted on Friday afternoon by three intoxicated individuals, prompting a police investigation into a potential antisemitic hate crime, reports The Jerusalem Post.
Rabbi Elie Lemmel reported being punched several times in the stomach and verbally abused in an unidentified language. “I received a blow and was insulted in a language I didn’t understand,” he wrote in a statement shared on social media. Despite the violence, he reassured his community, saying, “Thank God, everything is okay,” and encouraged resilience: “If we are feeling delicate when a person in our community is physically harmed, then let us strengthen ourselves spiritually.”
The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. in Deauville, Normandy. Police commander David Hennequet confirmed to Ouest-France that the attack was carried out by three drunken men. An investigation has since been launched.
The assault comes amid record levels of antisemitism in France, where Jewish leaders and community members have expressed growing concern over rising hostility and violence.
Photo credit: PASCAL ROSSIGNOL/REUTERS
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