The Jerusalem Post published an article today about the French Embassy’s desire to recruit more Israelis for its “numerous study and research opportunities in France.”
Apparently of the 15,000 Israeli students studying or conducting research abroad, only 150-200 — most of them individuals with family ties to the country — study in France.
The article quotes Jacques Baudier, an attache at the French embassy in Israel saying, “There is a real lack of attractiveness for France among Israeli students, and we wondered why this is and realized it was simply a lack of information.”
Not surprisingly, the Post asked if, oh just perhaps, the increasing anti-Semitism in France might be a factor. Amazingly Baudier “responded that he did not believe this to be a consideration,” adding, “Of course we have anti-Semitism, but this by itself it does not explain the low interest in studying in France.”
Au contraire, we suspect anti-Semitism likely is a consideration, particularly given that the article appeared the same day as this one: “French PM after rape of Jewish woman: Fight against anti-Semitism is daily struggle”
The whole discussion inspired us to compose une petite chanson in Baudier’s honor, to the tune of the “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’” number, “Those Canaan Days.” In lieu of Joseph’s brothers, imagine an office full of French diplomats as the beret-wearing vocalists:
Do you remember the good students from Canaan?
Those scholars from Jerusalem of Gold
Their disregard for waiting on lines
Their personalities so, well, bold
We’d stroll down the boulevards together
And everything round us was fine
Now the classrooms are Israeli-bare
No occupiers anywhere
Et maintenant we drink a bitter wineThose Canaan students we used to know
Why have they gone, why did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets
To those Canaan studentsDo you remember those wonderful parties?
The splendour of their falafel-y cuisine
Our extravagant, elegant soirees
The gayest this side of Tel Aviv
It’s funny but since we lost the Israelis
We’ve gone to the other extreme
No Zionists at dinner now
We’d only protest them anyhow
I even find we’re missing their chutzpahThose Canaan students we used to know
Why have they gone, why did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets
To those Canaan studentsIt’s funny but since we lost the Israelis
We’ve gone to the other extreme
Perhaps we all misjudged the state
Perhaps Hamas is not so great
And how we miss their entertaining appsThose Canaan students we used to know
Why have they gone, why did they go?
Eh bien, raise your beretsTo those Canaan students
Here’s a video of the actual “Joseph” version:
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
