The 150th anniversary of the Central Consistory of the Jews of France and Algeria was observed here last night in ceremonies at the Rue de La Victoire Synagogue. The Consistory was founded by Napoleon in 1908.
Speaking before an audience which filled the synagogue to capacity and which included rabbis and Jewish community leaders from Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy, Rabbi Jacob Kaplan, Grand Rabbi of France, traced the history of the Consistory which was established by Napoleon. The Jews of Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy were originally represented in the strong Sanhedrin set up here in 1808.
George Wormser, president of the Consistory, read the roll of all the readers of the Consistory and all the French Grand Rabbis in the 150 years. Andre Malraux, Minister of State for Cultural Affairs, today inaugurated a special exhibition on Jewish life in France during the last 150 years. The exhibit is held at the French National Archives.
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