More than a dozen Torah scrolls have been stolen from a synagogue in a suburb of Paris, prompting a police investigation and strong condemnation from local officials and Jewish community leaders. The theft occurred at the Grand Synagogue of Levallois-Perret, a wealthy community located northwest of the French capital.
Authorities said the burglary took place between Sunday night and Monday morning. The stolen items included Torah scrolls, which are among the most sacred objects in Judaism. Community leaders said the scrolls hold deep religious and spiritual significance and cannot be easily replaced.
Rabbi Chalom Lellouche described the incident as an attack that went beyond ordinary theft. He said the Jewish community felt deeply hurt by the loss and viewed the act as a deliberate attack on a central symbol of Jewish faith. The rabbi stated that the synagogue community had been violated by the burglary and called the theft an antisemitic act.
Local officials quickly responded to the incident. Levallois Mayor Agnès Pottier-Dumas said she learned of the attack with shock and anger. She strongly condemned what she described as a vile act and stressed that any antisemitic motive behind the crime must be firmly denounced.
The mayor confirmed that both municipal and national police forces had launched an investigation. Authorities are now working to identify those responsible and recover the stolen religious items.
The Hauts-de-Seine prefecture also reacted to the theft. Officials said the burglary represented far more than the loss of valuable objects. According to local authorities, the incident wounded an entire community of believers because of the importance of the Torah in Jewish religious life.
Prefect Alexandre Brugère met with local elected officials and Jewish community representatives on Monday evening. During the meeting, authorities pledged to pursue the investigation and make every effort to locate the missing scrolls and return them to the synagogue.
Philippe Cohen, president of the local Jewish community association, said the burglary appeared to have been carried out by experienced criminals. He explained that those responsible managed to bypass security measures at the synagogue, suggesting careful planning and professional execution.
Cohen noted that the synagogue’s security arrangements are now being reviewed. Community leaders are examining additional measures that could help prevent similar incidents in the future.
One aspect of the burglary has drawn particular attention from investigators and community members. According to Cohen, the perpetrators focused exclusively on Torah-related items. No other property was damaged, and nothing else was reported stolen from the synagogue.
He described the theft as a profound spiritual trauma not only for local worshippers but also for Jewish communities across France and around the world. The loss of the sacred scrolls has generated concern among religious leaders and community organizations.
The incident comes at a time when concerns about antisemitism remain high in France. Official figures from the Interior Ministry recorded 1,320 antisemitic incidents in 2025. Authorities reported that antisemitic acts accounted for more than half of all anti-religious incidents recorded during the year.
France is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe. Although Jews represent less than one percent of the country’s population, antisemitic incidents continue to be a significant concern for community leaders and public officials.
Investigators have not yet announced any arrests in connection with the synagogue burglary. Police are reviewing evidence and examining the circumstances surrounding the theft. Authorities have also not released details about the potential value of the stolen scrolls, though community leaders emphasized that their spiritual importance far exceeds any financial worth.
As the investigation continues, local officials and Jewish leaders have united in condemning the attack and calling for the return of the sacred items. The case has drawn national attention and renewed discussions about protecting religious institutions and combating antisemitism in France.
