The Jews in France have no ground for panic at the present moment, Israel Yefroikin, chairman of the Committee of Jewish Delegations, stated here addressing the Federation of Jewish Societies in Paris on the question of whether anti-Semitism exists in France.
Mr. Yefroikin pointed out that the present disturbances of Nationalist students in Paris and in Nancy are directed against aliens and not against Jews. It is, however, true that xenophobia may easily be converted into anti-Semitism, he added.
Mr. Yefroikin emphasized that there is no big party in France at present which incorporates anti-Semitism into its program as is done in other countries. It is true that the cry “France for the French” is being raised, but this is a result of the crisis, he said. There is not enough bread for everybody so restrictions are being made which affect the entire population, not only the Jews.
Mr. Yefroikin also stated that the allegation of French Jews that immigrant Jews bring anti-Semitism with them into France is partially true. “Where there are no Jews, there is no anti-Semitism,” was his sarcastic observation, concluding that a common full-blooded assimilation among the immigrant Jews and the French Jews is necessary.
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