Paris Horror: Elderly Jewish Woman Thrown from Apartment to Her Death to Cry of ‘’Allahu Akbar’’

Sebastien Wolfe

In a violent attack causing trepidation amongst Paris’ Jewish community, a 66-year-old Orthodox woman, Sarah Halimi, was murdered to the cry of ‘‘Allahu Akbar’’ early Tuesday morning, pushed from the window of her top-floor apartment in Paris’ 11th arrondissement.

The accused, a 27-year-old of Muslim origin known to police for a string of offenses, had broken into the apartment of his victim – reportedly scaling the exterior wall from the floor below where he lived with his parents – to stab his victim before throwing her to her death.

The lifeless body of Ms. Halimi was found on the ground beneath her apartment, having been pushed to her death from her third story window during the attack which took place at approximately 4:30am.

Three armed police were on the scene prior to the murder, according to neighbors, who also reported hearing the cry of ‘’Allahu Akbar’’ at the moment of the crime. Unconfirmed reports circulating on social media also suggest that Ms. Halimi had previously been harassed by a relative of the accused, and that she had been subjected to verbal abuse in the days leading up to the incident. Neighbors claim that the accused had been ”radicalized” and that police were waiting for an anti-terrorist unit to deal with the situation.

French media have been covering the event with limited reference to the background of either the victim or the accused, instead characterizing the crime as the act of an unhinged individual. Further details of the incident have been emerging in the local Jewish media, with the story now gaining traction in Israel.

Whilst the motives behind this crime are not yet 100% clear, it represents a growing phenomenon of criminal acts being preceded by cries of ‘‘Allahu Akbar’’ (‘’Our God is Greater’’) consistently explained by French media as the acts of ‘’déséquilibrés’’, the ‘’unbalanced’’ – a word fast entering the lexicon for such circumstances.

Examples of the phenomenon are manifold in the local press;

Wednesday morning, a man opened fire with a hunting rifle to cries of ‘’Allahu Akbar’’ in a shopping mall in suburban Nantes, in the west of the country, before being apprehended by police.

In the Mediterranean city of Nice last week, scene of an horrific attack on July 14th 2016 leaving 86 dead, a 22-year-old Algerian attacked passers-by in the street and tried to hijack a vehicle, whilst crying the same maxim.

Meanwhile in Flavigny, in Eastern France, thirty police were involved in an incident where an 18-year-old dressed in black terrorized patients and staff of a home for the handicapped whilst screaming ‘Allahu Akbar.’ He was later arrested under a French law banning apology for terrorism.

Earlier in March, in the southern city of Avignon, a 28-year-old man caused panic whilst roaming the center of town screaming ‘’Allahu Akbar – I’m armed and I’m going to kill you all.’’ Local media put the incident down to intoxication.

In February, also in Avignon, a 23-year-old man raped a prostitute in broad daylight, taunting ‘’infidel’’ police afterwards, threatening to ”send them to hell’ whilst incanting a prayer in Arabic and shouting the words ‘‘Allahu Akbar.’’

‘’I’m going to come back and kill you, I’m going to rape your wives, your daughters, then kill the whores!’’ the man, well known to police in Avignon, screamed during his arrest.

Whilst certain of these events can be put down to mental illness and intoxication, there is a worrying trend emerging, little reported outside of France; that of violent acts being committed by common criminals and amateur jihadists in the name of Islam with the battle cry of ”Allahu Akbar” being used to goad police and to strike fear into ordinary citizens. The resulting climate of insecurity is playing on nerves already jittery following a spate of terrorist attacks since 2015.

As the Paris investigation continues, France’s Jewish community will be paying close attention to this fast developing story. A march and vigil are set to take place Sunday outside the address of the deceased to honor her memory and draw attention to anti-Semitism in France.

Dates Set for Indian Prime Minister’s Historic Visit to Israel

by JNS.org

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: Twitter

JNS.org – The dates of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Israel—the first trip of its kind by a holder of his office—have been set for July 5-6 as the two countries mark 25 years of diplomatic relations.

While the details of Modi’s itinerary are still being worked out, reports indicate that his visit will focus on building stronger economic, agricultural and hi-tech ties.

According to the Hindustan Times, “Though Israel is among the top four military hardware suppliers to India, with more than $1 billion in annual sales to New Delhi, the Modi government is keen to ensure that this visit is not focused on defense ties alone, but encompasses long term economic and technological cooperation, resulting in a free-trade agreement.”

The report added that Modi’s visit will “be an open acknowledgment of India’s close ties with Israel, and also pave the way for the transfer of high-end agricultural technologies that will benefit Indian farmers.”

Ahead of Modi’s trip, Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will visit Israel in May. Notably, Modi will not visit the Palestinian territories in July; instead, PA President Mahmoud Abbas will visit India this spring. The Indian government has said it believes the prime minister’s standalone visit to Israel will further “underline the significance of India’s special ties with the Jewish nation.”

ANTOŚ LILIENTAL, KTÓRY ZMARŁ W KATYNIU
Blog Genealogia

Żydowski Instytut Historyczny

„Od kiedy datuje się moja świadomość, uczony byłem co wieczór każdy pacierz kończyć słowami: “… i daj Boziu, żeby tatuś wrócił”. Wiem, chociaż o tym dowiedziałem się już o wiele lat później, że moja matka nie przestała kazać mi się modlić nawet po tym, gdy przypadkowo, jadąc kolejką EKD, zauważyła nazwisko ojca na liście katyńskiej, drukowanej przez niemiecką gadzinówkę „Nowy Kurier Warszawski”, czytanej przez siedzącego na przeciw mężczyzny. Na każde Boże Narodzenie i na kolejne Święta Wielkanocne, dzieliłem się opłatkiem, bądź jajeczkiem z fotografią mężczyzny w mundurze oficerskim. Zdjęcie, mocno sfatygowane i zabrudzone od tego dzielenia…”

Zdjęcie Antosia z siostrą – Antoni LILIENTAL, urodzony w 1908 roku, syn Natana i Reginy LILIENTAL ze starszą siostrą Stanisławą.

List Antosia do Taty.

czytaj dalej tu: ANTOŚ LILIENTAL…ZMARŁ W KATYNIU…

RABBI MENDEL DEITSCH, 64, DIES FROM INJURIES AFTER ANTISEMITIC BEATING

DANIEL LEONS-MARDER

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Deitsch, a Chabad shaliach who operated in France and Israel, tragically died in Jerusalem over Shabbat, succumbing to incidents he sustained in an antisemitic attack in Ukraine last year.

He was attacked in the City of Zhitomir, at the train station, having spent Rosh Hashana in Haditch, and was found badly injured the next morning. Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack, which is now thought to have been antisemitic in motive.

Rabbi Deitsch was involved in maintaining the grave site of the founder of the Chabad movement, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, in Haditch and was also involved with promoting Judaism in the former Soviet Union.

He was given emergency treatment in Ukraine, and flown to Israel for further treatment for head trauma. He had been in a coma since the attack.

Chabad write:

“He is survived by his wife, Shterna Sara, and their children, Menouha Friedland, Aubervilliers, France; Rabbi Shnieur Zalman Deitsch, Minsk, Russia; Mrs. Chana Appelbaum, Migdal HaEmek, Israel; R’ Yisroel Deitsch, Jerusalem; R’ Levi Yitzchok Deitsch, Jerusalem, Yehudis Fradkin, Rechovot, Israel; R’ Yosef Eliyahu Deitsch, Krayot, Israel; and ShlomoYehuda, Shmuel, Yocheved, and Dovber.

He is also survived by his brothers: Rabbi Chaim Sholom Deitsch; Rabbi Shneur Zalman Deitsch, and Rabbi Moshe Deitsch.

The funeral will take place Sunday, leaving Shamgar funeral home in Jerusalem at 2:30 p.m.”

That a Rabbi could be beaten to the point of death in twenty-first century Europe is unforgivable and outrageous, and no civilised society can tolerate such actions. We will report on any legal proceedings if they arise.

We wish all his family, and all those dear to him, a long life.