World · Middle East · 17 hrs ago
French rabbi Delphine Horvilleur reflects on words after October 7
French rabbi Delphine Horvilleur has published a book collecting speeches she gave at her Paris synagogue.
They run from the eve of the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel to the release of the last Israeli hostages held in Gaza in October 2025.
Horvilleur says it took her time to speak about the suffering of innocent Palestinians after the attacks.
Looking back at her speeches, she examines what she calls a collapse of words and the harm it can cause in society.
She says a rabbi’s role is to bring religious texts into dialogue with the times, rather than lecture a congregation.
Her reflections concern the Jewish community and wider society, as crucial elections approach in Israel and France.
French rabbi Delphine Horvilleur says it took her time to speak about the suffering of innocent Palestinians after the October 7 attacks.
Her book, Sermons Among the Ruins, brings together speeches she delivered at her Paris synagogue.
The speeches span the eve of the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel to the release of the last Israeli hostages held in Gaza in October 2025.
Horvilleur says rereading her speeches led her to examine the collapse of words and its harmful effects on society.
- Who
- Delphine Horvilleur, a French rabbi.
- What
- She reflects on words and her response to the October 7 attacks and the war in Gaza in a book collecting her synagogue speeches.
- When
- The speeches span October 2023 to October 2025. The article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- At the Beaugrenelle synagogue in Paris; the attacks took place in Israel and the war was in Gaza.
- Why
- Rereading her speeches led her to question her own blind spots and the collapse of words in society.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
In reality, a rabbi is never supposed to lecture their congregation; their role is to offer a journey through the text, encouraging a dialogue between the text and the times we are living through.
The term "sermon" does not exist in the Jewish tradition: When a rabbi addresses their community, they give what is called "words of Torah" (dvar Torah).
Horvilleur’s collection begins with speeches delivered on the eve of the attacks in Israel.
The collection ends with speeches around the liberation of the last Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Le Monde EN published its article about Horvilleur’s reflections.
- Book
- Sermons Among the Ruins
- Synagogue
- Beaugrenelle synagogue, Paris
- Speeches span
- Eve of October 7, 2023, to October 2025
- Last hostages
- Israeli hostages held in Gaza were liberated in October 2025
Sources
Related news
Riyadh airport hit again after deadly Houthi attack
11 killed and 27 injured in tour bus crash in western Türkiye
Iran says US response to Hormuz reopening conditions is insufficient
Missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12 and injures more than 300
Projectile hits Riyadh airport terminal in second attack in two days
Attack injures several people and halts operations at Riyadh airport
Indian man dies after Riyadh airport attack, embassy says
Netanyahu seeks investigation into anonymous participants in Gaza documentary
Iran says Oman agreement will not immediately reopen Strait of Hormuz
US forces disable cargo ship accused of trying to breach Iran blockade
Russia condemns deadly attack on Riyadh airport and urges protection of civilians
