Jewish communities in France faced unsettling circumstances as recent protests turned violent. Community advice included concealing Jewish symbols and avoiding gathering. Several synagogues canceled Sabbath prayers, alerting members to possible dangers.
Samuel Arrouas, who splits time between Paris and Israel, shared his concerns. He noted it was the first time he saw synagogues cancel Mincha, the afternoon prayer.
During his time in France, Arrouas witnessed masked protestors with Palestinian flags, heightening fears. This fear arose amid a larger protest of 550,000 people against rising costs and declining services. These demonstrations resulted in looting and fires, leading to 2,400 arrests, according to France’s Interior Ministry.
President Emmanuel Macron called for calm, urging distinction between demands and violence. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered to resign, but Macron refused.
Shannon Seban from the Combat Antisemitism Movement noted that Palestinian flags at protests confused the focus. She mentioned that social media spread conspiracy theories linking Jews and unrest, with 1,384 antisemitic posts documented in two days.
In Marseille, damage affected local businesses. Bruno Benjamin of CRIF cited the devastation as profound, impacting livelihoods and society. Despite this, France’s SPCJ urged not to assume Jewish targets were religiously motivated.
The U.S. State Department’s travel advisory for France remains cautious due to unrest and terrorism threats. Jewish communities consider leaving France due to rising antisemitism.
A fight against antisemitism continues. According to Seban, political rhetoric, particularly from the far left, fuels violence. French Jewish residents must not choose between security and their ties to France.