French Jews Are in a State of Flux

Pessimism over the future of French Jewry and optimism over the possibilities of a France-Israeli rapprochement were voiced by Jean Rosenthal, president of the Executive Committee of the United Jewish Appeal of France (Appel Juif Unifie de France). His pessimism was caused not by a growth in anti-Semitism, which he declared had waned in France in recent years, but because of the open nature of French society which encourages assimilation. “Unlike America and England,” he said, “where Jews tend to congregate among Jews, in France Jews live among and with non-Jews and attend the same clubs and functions. There are no ghettos and no Jewish (social) clubs,” he added, “and many Jews have changed their names and can no longer be identified as Jews.” Rosenthal, who came to American on a week-long visit to participate in top-level campaign meetings of UJA, locked like the successful businessman that he is as he sat behind the desk of the president of the UJA of Greater New York in his conservatively cut dark suit and starched white shirt. With his sparse hair brushed back and wearing his gold rimmed glasses, he looked nothing at all like the popular idea of what a war hero and a resistance leader, which he was, should look like. His optimism was based, he said, on the regard the French people have for Israel’s military valor; their knowledge that Israel’s victory was made possible, in part, by French arms and equipment; by France having “been bitten” in North Africa; and on the belief by large segments of the French people that Israel is a bridgehead of Europe in a Middle Ages world.

Despite the apathy of the French Jewish population regarding Jewish affairs, Rosenthal said there was a growing minority of Jews which has become more strongly imbued with religion and Zionism. Aliyah from France to Israel has increased from 500 in 1966 to 6,000 in 1970, and is expected to reach between 7,000-8,000 in 1971, he stated. Rosenthal commented that the Jewish community in France, which was reduced from 300,000 to 175,000 during the Nazi holocaust, now ranks as the fourth largest in the world, following the U.S., Soviet Union and Israel. During the past 10 years, he said, successive waves of Jewish immigration to France from Russia, Poland, Middle Europe, Germany and North Africa have increased the French Jewish population to 550,000. Despite the immediate problems caused by the great influx of Jews from North Africa – the need for religious schools, synagogues and integration into the country’s economic life-he called the Sephardi influx “very healthy” for the long term. “French Jews tend to become assimilated,” he commented. “Sephardi Jews, with their own habits and life styles will create a newer and stronger Jewry.” Already, he said, “there are signs that the young Jewish refugees are integrating with the older Jewish community.” But, he noted, it was too soon to forecast what effect the Orthodox North African Jews will have on the future of the French Jewish community. He hoped it would be beneficial, he said, but he was pessimistic.

SECURITY AND FUTURE OF ISRAEL PRIMARY IN ACTIVITIES OF FRENCH JEWS

Before the war, Rosenthal said, Jewish fund-raising concentrated on local needs. Just before the war the Fonds Social Juif Unifie, the Federation type fund raising organization, raised slightly more than $2 million, two-thirds of which was devoted to local needs and one-third to Israel. The 1967 war shocked French Jews out of their apathy, Rosenthal said, and 100,000 Jews contributed $12 million to Israel. But since the war, the number of donors has fallen. However, he noted, in 1969 the Jewish community had raised $6.5 million for Israel; had increased that amount to $8 million in 1970; and had set a goal of $15 million for 1971. This may not be much in total sums by American standards. He stated but “proportionately we give as much as any community in the world.” And, he added, since contributions and gifts to cultural and charitable organizations are not tax-deductible, “when a French Jew gives money to UJA he is giving his own money.” Rosenthal said that under the terms of the agreement which formed the French UJA, it was agreed that the first $2 million raised would be divided equally between local and Israeli needs, with two-thirds of all other money raised to go to Israel. But, because of the crisis facing Israel during the past two years, the French Jewish community has waived its rights to all but $1 million annually until the crisis is resolved. However, Rosenthal noted, the needs of the French Jewish community are so great, especially in the matter of schooling, that a change in the above formula will be required soon.

Though he, himself, has had no religious schooling, Rosenthal believes that some religious training would be good for Jewish children. “If our Jews are no longer Jews, there will be no money for Israel anymore,” he said, noting that Israel was as concerned with preserving the Jewish community in France as was the French community itself. Rosenthal, a much decorated officer attached to Gen. DeGaulle’s London Headquarters, made four parachute jumps behind enemy lines in France to establish guerrilla strongpoints for use against the Germans on D-Day. When that day came, one of his guerrilla bands of “165 young boys” tied up an entire German division preventing its transfer to the invasion beaches. His war service earned him the friendship of DeGaulle. He is a “Companion of De Gaulle.” Rosenthal says of De Gaulle, despite his break with Israel, he was never an anti-Semite and “though we discussed and disagreed over his policy, it did not affect our friendship.” Rosenthal became active in Jewish communal work because “If life is good to one, one should do something for others.” Married for 44 years, Rosenthal is the father of two sons and has two grandchildren. He is an internationally famous dealer in precious stones and is Honorary President of the French Diamonf Dealers Association.