An Open Letter to University Presidents
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A man douses himself in gasoline, about to light himself on fire. The Jew who saved him wasn’t aware it was a social experiment.
This viral video is both terrifying and hopeful. It’s a sunny afternoon in one of Paris's busiest squares, and suddenly a man pours gasoline on himself and attempts to set himself on fire. Just before striking the match, a young man wearing a kippah on his head and tzitzit fringes fluttering in the wind, throws the lighter to the ground, embraces the distressed man, and leads him aside.
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The video was conceived by the French YouTuber “Dimerci”, who was conducting a social experiment to observe how the French would react to such a situation.
The only person who jumped in to “save” the man’s life was Mendel Narboni, an observant Jew. He ended up showing the world the Jewish value of cherishing life above all else and stopping at nothing to save another human being.
Mendel Narboni is a remarkably active 18-year-old on social media. He shared the details about the incident in an exclusive interview with Aish.com.
"I was in that area, Chatelet Square, filming some videos for my TikTok account when I saw this man attempting self-immolation. Without much hesitation, my first instinct was to intervene and prevent it from happening."
What the video doesn't show is that after the act, Mendel sat down with the man to console him. "I asked him about his problems, why he wanted to do something so extreme. I told him that I also faced problems, but taking one's own life isn't the solution. I assured him I was willing to help, and he could tell me how, but life is far too precious to lose."
As Mendel comforted the troubled man, a group of onlookers alerted the police to the unfolding scene. At that moment, the video creators confessed that it was merely a "social experiment" and pleaded not to involve law enforcement. Although some social media platforms took down this particular video due to its sensitive content, Mendel's endeavors to convey messages rooted in Jewish ethics continue to flourish across different applications. "I create many videos explaining what kashrut and Shabbat are about, and often engage in conversations or games with Christians and Muslims. For instance, I ask them to share customs from their religion, and I reciprocate with explanations of Jewish customs. My objective is to show that different religions can coexist peacefully, without feeling ashamed of their values."
Mendel grew up in a religious household, with his father, Rabbi Tzemach Narboni, serving as a rabbi in a community in Savigni-sur-Orge, on the outskirts of Paris. Growing up in the home of a community leader showed him that one can have a positive impact on others, and he, too, wants to follow in his father's footsteps, albeit in his own way.
"My father is a Chabad sheliach, someone who found his purpose in positively affecting the lives of Jews. I discovered my own mission through my videos and social media—my way of making a positive impact. Many young people in the community congratulate me on my videos. And not just Jews, even Muslims applaud me and encourage me to continue spreading a message of peace among religions.
"Many young people view social media and want to emulate others' lives. What I aim to convey is that one can lead a joyful and fulfilling life while upholding their values and remaining sincere and true to oneself."
