The Paris press today reports the case of the librarian M. Bloch, who when filling out his census papers insisted upon being listed as a Jew despite opposition by the Police Commissar.
Bloch presented himself at police headquarters in Paris to make out the necessary documents. The Commissar noticed that the librarian was inscribing his replies under the Category reserved for Jews.
“But you are not a Jew,” the police official pointed out.
“Yes, I am,” Bloch insisted. “I desire to share the fate of my co-religionists.”
In spite of his protestations, the Commissar refused to permit the Jewish librarian to register as a Jews.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
