A confidential discussion between Jewish adolescents from different regions of France and U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner highlighted the harsh realities endured by young Jews in French public schools. Some revealed they conceal their heritage, remove noticeable Jewish symbols, and spend the entire week anticipating reunions with Jewish friends.

Nine participants from CTeen France, part of Chabad's worldwide Jewish youth organization, met with Ambassador Kushner and his wife, Seryl, on May 4 at the U.S. ambassador's residence on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, as reported by Chabad.org. Ranging in age from 14 to 18, these teens hailed from various CTeen chapters nationwide and engaged in a two-hour dialogue about their experiences as Jewish students in France.

Younes, an 18-year-old from Rennes in northwest France, turned down an official embassy note justifying his school absence to avoid alerting teachers or peers to his involvement in a Jewish youth group. CTeen officials noted that solely his closest school friend is aware of his Jewish background.

In response to Ambassador Kushner's inquiry about the experience of being Jewish in secular French schools, the teens recounted prolonged antisemitism in educational settings and a marked increase in aggression following the October 7 massacre, according to Chabad.org.

'They face antisemitism on the front lines'

"These young people confront antisemitism directly on a regular basis," stated Rabbi Mendy Mottal, who co-directs CTeen France alongside his wife, Chaya, after escorting the group. "The ambassador was deeply affected by their words and demeanor. Honestly, I was too."

Salomé, from Orléans, shared with Kushner that prior to CTeen's local chapter establishment, she believed herself to be the sole Jewish teen in her city.

"She explained to the ambassador that throughout the school week, she looks forward to encountering her Jewish peers," Mottal recounted. "It bolsters her resolve."

Orléans gained attention for an antisemitic incident in March 2025, where Rabbi Arie Engelberg, the Chabad representative and community leader, was attacked en route home from synagogue with his nine-year-old son. Officials classified it as a hate crime motivated by antisemitism, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to denounce the "poison of antisemitism."

This testimony unfolded amid ongoing elevated antisemitic incidents in France, which hosts Europe's biggest Jewish population. In 2025, authorities logged 1,320 such acts - down 16% from 2024 yet alarmingly elevated - per Interior Ministry data referenced by the European Jewish Congress. These incidents comprised 53% of all religion-based crimes, despite Jews representing under 1% of the populace, roughly 450,000 to 500,000 individuals.

A diplomatic encounter with personal resonance

Kushner, father to Jared Kushner - President Donald Trump's son-in-law - received U.S. Senate confirmation as ambassador to France in May 2025.

The session held special meaning for Kushner, identified by Chabad.org as a descendant of Holocaust survivors and a dedicated advocate for Jewish initiatives. He hosted the teens to gain firsthand insights into Jewish youth life in France.

Post-meeting, Kushner posted on X praising the "driven young leaders," noting CTeen's role in nurturing youth nationwide and, like himself, tackling antisemitism through opposition to all hatred in communities.

The Kushners created a welcoming atmosphere: kosher cuisine adhered to Jewish dietary rules, Seryl guided a tour of the landmark residence, and each teen departed with a bespoke embassy kippah and medal.

Expanding Jewish youth outreach

Since its 2014 inception under Mottal's guidance, CTeen France has grown to over 120 chapters, engaging a substantial portion of France's approximately 30,000 Jewish teens. It provides weekly events, leadership development, retreats, summer programs, and the yearly CTeen International Shabbaton in New York, attracting 4,500 from 60 nations this year, per Chabad.org.

Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, CTeen International chairman, emphasized the network's value in fostering community for French Jewish youth amid school isolation.

"These adolescents enter public schools each day potentially as the lone Jew in class," Kotlarsky observed. "CTeen provides belonging and leadership empowerment."

For many, resuming school meant reverting to subdued Jewish expression. Nonetheless, the ambassadorial audience elevated their voices, affirming that their narratives resonate far beyond classrooms, localities, and youth gatherings.