By COLlive reporter
Despite the terror attacks in Paris on Friday being compared to the simultaneous Mumbai attacks in 2008, at least one synagogue will not be protected by police or French security agencies.
The French capital is in lock-down as two intense standoffs with terrorists were underway in and around Paris — a hostage situation at a kosher grocery store and in a building in the town of Dammartin-en-Goele.
Authorities have expressed a high degree of certainty that the people suspected in Wednesday’s killing of 12 people at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo are involved here as well, CNN says.
A rabbi who has contacted police to provide protection for his Chabad center which will be holding services this Shabbos and is located in a nearby neighborhood was turned down.
“We are very worried,” he told COLlive.com. “We asked police to patrol the shul but they said they don’t have the manpower. So we are trying to find a guard from a private security company.”
The rabbi, who asked not to be named for security purposes, says that he has been fielding many calls from members of the Jewish community, asking for guidance and expressing support.
“I have been telling everyone that we are continuing as usual. Our job is to encourage people and strengthen their spirit. Many came to put on Tefillin and say a prayer for the hostages,” he said.
The Israelite Central Consistory of Paris, the body which oversees religious Jewish institutions, issued a call to the public and that “whoever does not have to – should not come to synagogue tonight,” according to Ynet.
With an hour left before Shabbos and the hostage situation at the kosher grocery still not resolved, the Chabad rabbi is telling locals to “come and not be afraid.” Prayers are definitely needed.
VIDEO:
you French Jews gotta arm yourselves. Don’t depend on police. Get military training
The spineless French let the German Nazis take over without any meaningful resistance, and now they are letting the fanatic Muslims do the same. As nationalistic as they claim to be, one can only look upon their blind stupidity in letting their country fall to the wayside in the face of these terrorists. The French vote in the U.N. for Palestinian statehood is clear evidence of their gullibility. It is time for ALL of French Jewry to mass emigrate to Israel.A half million additional Jews to the Israeli population will definitely enhance the structure and security of Israel. Let France… Read more »
About the only thing Ariel Sharon ever got right when he said years ago that Jews are not safe in France and should emigrate to Israel.
How Klein kapildig. The government have 90,000 troops and police dealing with 2 hostage situations and Shliach expects protection. The most sensible thing he should have done is tell the community to stay in their homes until the situation is resolved with the terrorists. There was a clear secona nefoshish and all Jewish leaders should have given a clear directive for yidden to stay off the streets until the sieges at least were over. Going forward I am sure protection will be an option for all Jewish instructions as well as lehavdil non Jewish.
As an American living in a rural community, I have to say I don’t think America is any safer. Guess it depends on where you are. I don’t think Israel is a safe place either. Scary times.
It wasn’t the police it was a Jewish body
Jews still living in France should obtain firearms and training, and practice regularly. And in view of the situation it seems to me (I am not a rabbi) that it should be permitted to carry the weapons on Shabbos. As much as I understand the value of not showing fear, if no one in that shul owns a weapon that s/he knows how to use, and the police are refusing to provide protection, I think telling people to come to shul anyway falls in the category of relying on miracles, which is prohibited. Bear in mind that the people will… Read more »
I think encouraging your people to leave the safety of their houses is beyond stupidity…It is irresponsible. Of course they dont have the police power..ther is too much going on to protect a shul when the police specifically told people to stay home.
believe me, the prayers of jews are much better! taht will help much more than just sitting at home!
the shliach IS NOT
Where is the protection from within the Jewish Community ? What we are too nice to carry some type of proprotection ???? Pepper Spray or something? JDL what’s up???!!
there are 4 hostages killed in that grocery.So this is a good thing to get people to come to a shul that is not protected???U cant have a minyan at a home?Not sure how smart this is.
Yes we may feel safer and there is no imminent threat, but America is Nisht Andersht… THat doesn’t mean it can’t happen here… Chas Vishalom!
No shomrim?
Not always is it smart to come!! If the police are saying that its an active crime scene and stay home you LISTEN TO THEM>.. Dum Shliach!
Hashem drives the tank just remember that . Hashem controls everything that is where our faith comes in. Hashem orchastrates everything.
time to move
Every Yid in Paris should be armed with a handgun shotgun and machine gun and being prepared to shoot to kill.Hashem will protect them so we are not gd forbid led to slaughter.There is no excuse not to fight back when surrounded by. Enemies
Is it the right thing to do? … instead of telling people to hunker down at home, at least until this is over …