Attacked in Deauville, then Beaten in Neuilly: Rabbi Targeted Twice in a Week

A 62-year-old rabbi was violently assaulted on Friday, June 6, while seated at a café terrace in Place du Marché, Neuilly-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine). The man was struck several times with a chair, notably to the face, resulting in a head wound and bruising. He was taken to the hospital, conscious but in shock.

The attacker, a Palestinian national subject to deportation from Germany, was subdued by bystanders before police arrived. He is now in custody. The Nanterre public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for aggravated assault.

Second Assault in Less Than Eight Days

The same rabbi, Elie Lemmel, had already been attacked on May 30 in Deauville (Calvados) while wearing a kippah. He was accosted by three visibly intoxicated individuals who punched him in the abdomen. He sustained minor injuries and was not hospitalized. As of now, the perpetrators of that first assault remain unidentified, according to the Lisieux prosecutor’s office.

Outrage from Officials

The mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, Jean-Christophe Fromantin, condemned the attack as “heinous and clearly antisemitic.” Speaking to BFMTV, he stated:

“It was clearly the sight of the rabbi, his kippah, and his religion that triggered the attack. That is deeply concerning.”

Gabriel Attal, Renaissance MP for Hauts-de-Seine, also responded on X, expressing support for the rabbi:

“Antisemitism, like all forms of hatred, is a deadly poison in our society. We will always fight against it.”

A Deeply Personal Testimony

Speaking on BFMTV, Rabbi Lemmel described the experience as “deeply upsetting”:

“I feel like I’m facing what you could call profiling. I grew up in France, a country where farmers saved my parents and grandparents during the war. What’s happening now is heartbreaking.”

“We have to stay more vigilant, but we must also keep moving forward,” he added.

A Worrying Climate

According to the French Ministry of the Interior, 1,570 antisemitic acts were recorded in France in 2024, a sharp rise that continues to raise alarm within the Jewish community.