Friends,
Yesterday, I left Paris and arrived in Tel Aviv on a flight with over 100 new immigrants. Most of their families had only come to France 60-70 years earlier from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and other places in North Africa. They shared with me what a tough decision it was to relocate their lives, but they felt deep down their future was in Israel.
I had the privilege of accompanying Israel’s newest arrivals as part of a seminar organized by the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) for executives from major U.S. Jewish Federations. We spent the week learning about the changing realities facing French Jewry and ended our program with additional discussions in Israel.
The situation in France today is complex. With over 450,000 Jews, France is home to the third largest Jewish population after Israel and the United States. Jewish life there is vibrant. There are many day schools, synagogues, and over 250 Kosher restaurants.
At the same time, antisemitism in France has been growing steadily for over two decades, and October 7th has produced a new, more aggressive strain. There are increasing reports of antisemitic acts at all levels of schooling. The head of the Jewish student union told us that university students are wary of associating with their Jewish peers for fear that they themselves will be called supporters of Israel. In lower grades, kindergarteners, preschoolers even, are being excluded from their classmates’ parties because they’re Jewish. Broadly speaking, incidents are being met with apathy from teachers, staff, and authorities.
The result of all this is widespread uncertainty and unease. The American Jewish Committee’s Paris office found that one in five French Jews have removed their mezuzah from outside their home. One in six have changed their name on delivery apps to obscure their religious identity. Jewish communities are questioning whether they have a future in France, and more and more families are indeed choosing to make Aliyah.
That said, French Jews remain passionate about building their community. Nearly three-quarters of French Jews say the October 7th massacre strengthened both their Zionist convictions (73%) and their Jewish identity (71%). Jewish engagement is up and interest in Jewish day schools has skyrocketed, particularly as families leave public education.
What comes next for French Jewry is hard to predict. Those we spoke with are awaiting the 2027 presidential election for clues about the direction France will take. For my part, I continue to picture the upcoming opening of a new, large synagogue in Sarcelles to serve a community 12,000 strong even as they face threats from those around them. While our history has many instances where we are forced to leave, we have many others cases of building Jewish life and thriving even as others would do us harm. I am confident that one way or another, the French Jews will thrive.
Shabbat Shalom,
—Gil
Photos: Avi Bass, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)