Long lines strung out at kosher food stores just before Rosh
Hashanah and the streets of the Paris Jewish quarter were
packed with people. Heavily laden shoppers navigated through
the crowds in search of sheep heads for sale. Yet a tense
atmosphere pervaded among Jews in the heart of Paris and in
the suburbs as Yom Hadin drew near, with grave worries
over the precarious situation in France as well as the
situation in Eretz Yisroel.
In an article about the Jewish community, Le Monde
reported the Jews "have a bad feeling" in France despite the
decrease in the number of antisemitic attacks and they
"retreat from their Jewish identity or are tempted to leave
for Israel or Canada." Antisemitic street demonstrations have
not abated.
In France more and more the Left and the media continue adopt
the Palestinian position against the existence of Israel and
pressure Jews to demonstrate loyalty to France and to
denounce Israel. To accomplish this certain Israeli figures
have been enlisted, including Avraham Burg; Zeev Sternhal,
the historian of French fascism who himself appears to have
been infected with their propaganda; and a certain
Wershavsky, who served as the rabbi of Strasbourg and turned
into an anti-Israeli inciter. These three and others are now
highly sought after for interviews on Israel's chances of
continued survival.
Most of the Jewish community, comprised of Jews who
immigrated from North Africa, are worried at the prospect of
having to undergo another uprooting away from France after
arriving in French suburbs penniless forty years ago and
working hard to establish themselves. In Jewish neighborhoods
residents feel they have been abandoned by authorities who
have surrendered to the Muslims. These Jews do not see
themselves staying in France for long. French society allowed
them to live as traditional Jews tied to Israel and to be
Frenchmen as well, but this tolerant attitude has changed
recently.
At the Senate in Paris, symposiums are held on Jewish topics
such as, "What future does the Jew have in France?" or
"Towards a forced ghetto." Whole families relocate from
dangerous neighborhoods and congregate in increasingly Jewish
neighborhoods.
Even assimilated, secular Jews are finding themselves upset
by impossible situations. Albert Levy, a leftist Jew who
works as an attorney for an anti-racist (yet antisemitic)
organization, was helpless after his offspring from a mixed
marriage converted to Islam and were expelled from school for
wearing a Muslim scarf. In the Deri family, which immigrated
from North Africa, one of the children voices anti-Israel
positions as the leader of a leftist stream of the Socialist
Party. Meanwhile his brother, like many others, went to
Israel to flee antisemitism, preferring to live in a country
under the constant threat of terrorism.
According to the Jewish Agency the aliya rate has doubled,
while many others have decided to leave France but are
waiting. Israel is not the only option. Many are also
streaming into Canada, but their numbers are completely
unknown. Many French Jews travel to Israel several times per
year and some feel at home in both countries.
In suburbs like Sarselle people dream of leaving France.
"Whoever has the means, gets out of France," said one Jew
there. They are afraid of settling and losing themselves in
the secular society, going the way of the Shinui Party. Young
French Jews prefer to return to Judaism in France despite the
difficulties and to send their children to religious and
chareidi schools rather than falling into a secular Israeli
lifestyle in Netanya.
The ghetto that journalists are so eager to warn against
refers to the return to Torah and mitzvos among young French
Jews. In France, far from the anti-religious government in
Israel, on the street it is apparent that traditional Jews
are searching for spirituality. Halls are rented out for
tefillos due to a lack of space in the botei
knesses. During the days of selichos 2,000 Jews
gathered for a special shiur given by Chief Rabbi
Yosef Sitruk in a large hall. Many people attend daily
gemora shiurim in botei medrash following
Shacharis. Jewish schools are filled to capacity.
