Jewish leaders across France say that a “new anti-Semitism” is growing within the country.

The group cites four main factors in what they call an enhanced atmosphere of fear for French Jews.  The rise of far-right nationalist groups with Nazi sympathies, a deteriorating relationship between black Europeans and Jews, hard economic times and the soaring population of Muslims in France who carry traditional anti-Jew beliefs.

France, the home to the largest Jewish community in Europe, has seen an increase in violence against Jews.  Earlier this month, two Jewish youths were jumped and severely beaten as they were heading to synagogue in an eastern Paris suburb.  The man who launched a deadly attack on a Jewish museum in Brussels was French and had recently been in Syria with Islamic extremists.

Jewish citizens have been subjected in recent weeks to intimidation from residents who told “dirty Jewesses” that they have too many children and the homes of Jewish residents have had Stars of David spray-painted on the sides of their homes.

A 13-year-old girl told the Washington Post the atmosphere is enough to scare her from being alone with friends.

“I’m afraid that what happened in Toulouse will happen at my school too,” Michele said.  (The girl’s last name was withheld for security reasons.)  “I hear what people say about Jews. And I am scared.”