Amid escalating anti-government protests in France, Jewish communities are facing unprecedented warnings to conceal their identity and avoid gatherings, leading some synagogues to cancel prayers.
In recent days, French Jews have received alarming warnings to hide their identities as anti-government protests across the nation turned increasingly violent. On Saturday, some congregations even canceled afternoon prayers, known as Mincha, due to safety concerns stemming from the unrest.
Samuel Arrouas, a member of the French Jewish community who splits his time between Paris and Israel, shared his shock at the warnings. “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,'” he told Fox News Digital. This marked a troubling first for Arrouas, who noted, “I’m 40 years old. First time I heard this.”
In addition to canceling prayers, community members were advised against wearing kippahs, traditional skullcaps, or tzitzit, ritual fringes worn by observant Jewish men. Arrouas emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “You go to prayers, and you immediately leave.” He recounted his experience of encountering masked demonstrators brandishing Palestinian flags near Paris Dauphine University, expressing his fear: “When you’re Jewish and you pass in front of such a scene, the only thing you want to do is just get away.”
The protests, which drew approximately 550,000 participants on October 17, were primarily focused on rising fuel prices, the cost of living, and deteriorating public services, including education. However, the demonstrations quickly devolved into chaos, with rioters clashing with police, looting businesses, and setting fire to vehicles and buildings in cities such as Paris and Marseille. France’s Interior Ministry reported around 2,400 arrests during this period of unrest.
In a national address, President Emmanuel Macron called for “calm and order,” urging citizens to distinguish between the protesters’ “legitimate demands” and those engaging in violence. He stated, “Nothing justifies” the destruction and pledged accountability for those responsible. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation amid the turmoil, a move that Macron declined to accept.
Shannon Seban, the executive director of European affairs at the Combat Antisemitism Movement, highlighted the growing concerns within the Jewish community, particularly regarding the presence of Palestinian flags at demonstrations ostensibly focused on domestic issues. “What does Gaza have to do with any of this?” Seban questioned, emphasizing that the protests had shifted from legitimate student demands to organized violence.
She further noted that the rhetoric surrounding the protests has fueled antisemitic conspiracy theories online. “At the Combat Antisemitism Movement, we documented 1,384 antisemitic posts in just two days, including conspiracy theories accusing Jews and Israel of being behind the unrest,” Seban stated. “The right to protest is fundamental in a democracy. But the right to protest is not the right to destroy.” She urged France and Europe to take action before it is too late.
In Marseille, Bruno Benjamin, president of the Marseille-Provence branch of CRIF, the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions, described the devastation inflicted on local businesses. “Several hundred shops were ransacked, vandalized, and looted. The scale of the devastation is simply unbearable,” he told Fox News Digital. Benjamin lamented the loss of years of hard work for shopkeepers, many of whom now face layoffs or temporary unemployment.
He emphasized that the violence is not merely an attack on businesses but on people’s livelihoods and dignity, threatening the very fabric of society. France’s Jewish community security organization, SPCJ, cautioned against assuming that Jewish-owned properties were targeted specifically for their religion. They noted that a break-in and vandalism at a synagogue in Paris’s 19th arrondissement initially appeared to be a burglary, although the motive remains unclear.
The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 2 travel advisory, urging Americans to exercise increased caution in France due to terrorism and unrest. Fox News Digital reached out to the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comments regarding the ongoing unrest and the safety of the Jewish community.
Benjamin expressed concern that rising insecurity and antisemitism have led some French Jews to contemplate leaving the country, while others remain resolute in their desire to stay. “We must relentlessly combat antisemitism, defend their right to live in safety and dignity, and ensure that no Jew in France should ever have to choose between their personal security and their love for their country,” he stated. “Because being Jewish in France should never mean having to live in fear.”
For Seban, the blame for the current climate of violence lies squarely with political leaders. “Let me be very clear: La France Insoumise and the far left bear a political responsibility for fueling this climate of violence and confrontation,” she asserted.
As tensions continue to rise, the Jewish community in France finds itself navigating an increasingly precarious landscape, grappling with the dual challenges of rising antisemitism and the broader societal unrest.
According to Fox News Digital, the situation remains fluid, and the Jewish community is calling for urgent action to ensure their safety and security.