Baron Guy de Rothschild has called on France’s Jews “to remain vigilant” but to also show a “dignified moderation” in their reactions to anti-Semitic symptoms. Rothschild, who is president of France’s central Jewish welfare fund, the Fonds Social Juif Unifie (FSJU), was addressing the organization’s annual conference last Sunday. He termed anti-Semitism in France today “a minor irritation” only but said “we should nonetheless react with no reservations should our civil, social or physical security or our dignity be threatened” in any way whatsoever.
Rothschild paid tribute to the existence of Israel as a main factor in fighting anti-Semitism. He said France’s Jewish community is energetically opposed to any plans to invite Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasir Arafat to visit France.
The annual FSJU conference adopted a five percent increase in its budget for 1980, expressing its confidence that the community fund-raising will meet this target. Welfare activities will be increased especially in caring for the old and the very young. The FSJU’s treasurer, David de Rothschild, paid tribute to government assistance in these fields and to that of the city of Paris. Guy de Rothschild summed up the discussion by stressing that “fighting against poverty and misery is part of the honor of being Jewish.”
There will be no Bulletin dated Nov. 22 due to Thanksgiving Day, a postal holiday.
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.
