France – Jewish Man Stabbed in Anti-Semitic Attack in Strasbourg, France ID’d

France – A 62 year old Jewish man who was stabbed in Strasbourg, France, late Friday morning has been ID’d as Shalom Ber Levy who is a longstanding member of the Chabad-Lubavitch community in Strasbourg and father of Chabad emissaries

Levy, one serving the French community in Tel Aviv, and another in St. Tropez, France, was reported to be in shock over the incident but resting comfortably in a local hospital, according to Rabbi Mendel Samama, a member of rabbinical team of Strasbourg and a friend of the victim. “He told me his survival today was a miracle of Tu b’Av,” said Samama. Police described the attack as anti-Semitic.

“He was stabbed once and his attacker wanted to stab him again but he had the strength to run away and save himself,” said Samama who described Levy as ‘real hero’ who only a few years ago had saved the life of a woman who he pulled from a car that had burst into flames. “His heroism was officially recognized with a medal presented by a government minister. Now, his courage saved his own life,” said Samama.

Samama said that he expected the Strasbourg Jewish community to be on guard, but to return to normal after the attack. “Shabbos will be as usual,” he predicted. “People will talk of course, maybe some will worry. We have a chief rabbi here who does a wonderful job of implementing religious dialogue, so we do not live in a city with tension and fears. Everyone lives together. We have a Jewish area that is very nice. We have a strong and united community. And it is a very peaceful city,” he said.

“I believe that we will have the strength to overcome this and be stronger and more united,” said Samama. “This is the main thing.