Rabbi Moshe Cohen discovered his vehicle severely damaged after Havdalah following violent unrest in central Paris. Despite the destruction, local Chabad shluchim continued assisting Jewish residents and business owners affected by the riots.

A Chabad shliach serving the Jewish community in central Paris returned from shul after Shabbos to discover that his car had been severely damaged during violent riots that swept through the city's Place de la République area.

Rabbi Moshe Cohen, also known as Rabbi Moyche Cohen, who directs Beth Loubavitch Paris 11–République together with his wife, Tzipora, found his vehicle with its windows smashed and its interior burned after Havdalah on Motzoei Shabbos, October 17.

According to an account published by Chabad.org, the destruction occurred while Rabbi Cohen was observing Shabbos, as rioters set fires and damaged vehicles and businesses throughout the surrounding neighborhood.

Rabbi Cohen said that security-camera footage showed his vehicle being set on fire during the unrest. Other cars parked along the street were also damaged.

The incident was part of wider disturbances that left sections of central Paris affected by fires, vandalism and looting.

Despite the damage to his own property, Rabbi Cohen emphasized that the incident should not automatically be viewed as an antisemitic attack.

He explained that Jewish and non-Jewish residents alike had suffered losses during the violence, and there was no established evidence that his vehicle had been specifically targeted because he was Jewish.

The unrest also created difficulties for Jewish residents observing Shabbos.

According to Chabad.org, community security volunteers warned worshippers during Shabbos that conditions near Place de la République were becoming dangerous and advised them to return home.

Rabbi Meir Shlomo Lubecki, a fellow Chabad shliach serving the Paris 3 district, described extensive damage to streets and businesses in the affected neighborhoods.

In the aftermath of the riots, the two rabbonim visited Jewish business owners whose properties had been damaged, offering support and helping residents assess their immediate needs.

Rabbi Cohen also began organizing assistance for people facing losses that might not be covered by insurance.

The response highlighted the role of Chabad's local shluchim, who continued their communal responsibilities even as their own neighborhood dealt with the consequences of the violence.

Rabbi Cohen and his wife have served the Jewish community in the République area since 2010, providing Torah learning, Jewish programming and assistance to local families.

The damage to the rabbi's vehicle drew attention to the wider impact of the unrest on Jewish life in central Paris, particularly for residents and community leaders living near the affected streets.

While the circumstances surrounding the destruction of his car remain part of the broader account of the riots, Rabbi Cohen's response focused on helping those affected and maintaining the community's activities.

As Paris residents began recovering from the disturbances, local Chabad shluchim continued reaching out to families and business owners in need of assistance.