Shocking 84 percent increase of anti-Semitic attacks observed in France

The number of ant-Semitic attacks in France have rose up to 84 percent compared to the same quarter in 2014, according to a nonprofit organization serving as a watchdog. Statistics show that 23 percent of attacks were considered violent, with a little less behind the 27 percent observed in the first quarter of last year.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The Jewish Community Security Service SPCJ, which aims to "protect Jewish life," released the numbers that show the surge up in the frequency of anti-Semitic attacks in France. According to the group's findings, between January and May, 508 attacks were recorded. It was an 84 percent increase from the 276 recorded during the same period from last year. In 2014, 387 of the anti-Semitic incidents were classified as death threats.

From 423 incidents in 2013, there was a shocking increase in attacks, reaching 851 incidents in 2014 by looking at the overall numbers. This made 2014 the second most horrific year of anti-Semitism sentiments and attacks, next to 2004 which had 974 incidents all year round.

The SPCJ's released statistics for 2015 included the four Jewish residents of France killed inside a kosher supermarket by one of the Charlie Hebdo attackers' associates. The anti-Semitic incident was related to the separate violent incident instigated by Al-Qaida-related brothers in Paris.

The rapid increase of violent attacks against Jews has prompted fear among the Jewish community in France and throughout Europe. In the beginning of 2015, Jeffrey Goldberg wrote an article for the Atlantic titled, "Is It Time For the Jews to Leave Europe?"

In the midst of turmoil after the Charlie Hebdo attack, Goldberg interviewed a son of a Holocaust survivor, the French philosopher Alain Finkielkraut.

"My French identity is reinforced by the very large number of people who openly declare, often now with violence, their hostility to French values and culture. I live in a strange place. There is so much guilt and so much worry," stated the philosopher.

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