Algerian Jewish refugees held their first organizational meeting here today, planning a permanent group to protect the interests of the many thousands of Algerian Jews who have fled to France.
The move was launched by refugees from Oran, whence all but about 100 of the 30,000 Oranian Jews have fled to this country. About 600 Oranian Jews crowded an old Orthodox Ashkenazic synagogue, on Rue de Tournelles. The house of worship has been turned over to the former Oranians for use as a Sephardic synagogue.
The meeting opened with the chanting of the El Moleh Rachmin and recitation of the Kaddish in memory of the Jews who died during the Algerian revolution. Holy Scrolis brought to France by the Oranian refugees were held up by the participants in the meeting. It was revealed by a spokesman for the Oranian refugees that 90 Holy Scrolls had been brought out of Oran, 40 of the Torahs being kept here, while 50 others have been sent to Israel.
The meeting demanded that the Central Jewish Consistory furnish religious facilities for the Algerian refugees, particularly for those former Algerian Jews now living in small communities in the provinces, who lack all religious facilities, M. Jais, chief rabbi of Paris, addressed the refugees and promised, both on behalf of the Consistory and for the Grand Rabbinate here, that all religious needs for the refugees would be met.
The French Chief Rabbinate yesterday sent a number of rabbis to various areas to help organize deliveries of kosher food and establishment of other religious facilities which the Rabbinate hopes to have in operation before the end of July.
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