On Friday afternoon, May 30, 2025, Rabbi Elie Lemmel was assaulted in Deauville, Normandy, by three intoxicated individuals. The attack occurred around 3:30 PM local time. According to Rabbi Lemmel, he was struck multiple times in the stomach and subjected to verbal abuse in an unfamiliar language. He later shared on social media, “I received a blow and was insulted in a language I didn’t understand,” adding, “Thank God, everything is okay.”
Local police have initiated an investigation into the incident. David Hennequet, commander at the Deauville police station, confirmed the assault and stated that the perpetrators were three drunken individuals.
This attack is part of a concerning trend of increasing antisemitic incidents in France. Notably, on March 22, 2025, Rabbi Arié Engelberg, the Chief Rabbi of Orléans, was assaulted while walking with his nine-year-old son. The assailant, a 16-year-old, was arrested and is under investigation for intentional violence motivated by religious affiliation.
