Most French Jews see their future in France

   I had the honor to be part of a Jewish Federations of North America emergency mission to Paris, Feb 7-10. There were 18 communities represented, 40 people total.

   Obviously, we were there to show solidarity to the Jews in France, the third largest Jewish population in the world, after the horrendous terror attack on the kosher market a few weeks ago. We went to listen, to offer help however possible, to show support and to bear witness.

   The trip was very different than I think any of us thought it would be.

   French Jews are proudly French. They have been French since Rashi was commenting on the Torah in Troyes in the 11th century.

   Of the 550,000 Jews, 50 percent are unaffiliated, 30 percent are affiliated, 20 percent are marginally affiliated. But more kosher restaurants exist in Paris than in New York City.

   They want to stay there, and the government wants them to stay in France — and be safe, secure and successful.

   Our first stop on the trip was to the Victoire Synagogue. This magnificent synagogue is more than 135 years old. Of its budget, 85 percent comes from the government, as is the case with most Jewish institutions.

   The French Jews are wealthy, with only 2 percent living below the poverty level — and the community takes care of them.

   Jewish leaders we met with at the synagogue feel very strongly connected to Israel. Some 28 percent of Jewish families either vacation or send their children on an educational experience in Israel. Thousands of young people attended the Israel Fair that offered hundreds of programs.

   They love Israel, but they are not planning to move there in droves. I believe the news media have totally misplayed this.

   The Jewish Agency for Israel is preparing for 15,000 people to make aliyah (move to Israel), but I cannot see that so many people will.

   The young people we spoke with said some may go to Israel, but many may go to another French city, many to Montreal, Canada, and many to the U.S. They are solid Zionists, but most see their future in France.

   The Conseil Representatif de France, similar to JFNA, with 65 smaller organizations that help make it, is the official voice of the organized Jewish community. They do feel somewhat isolated.

   When more than a million people took to the streets in support of freedom of expression after the attack on the magazine Charlie Hebdo, it was an afterthought to also mention the killing of four Jews at Hyper Casher, the kosher market. That was painful and scary to CRIF, and was/is to me.

   But the government response to Hyper Casher has been powerful. It immediately placed 18,000 soldiers at 794 Jewish institutions for the foreseeable future.

   CRIF’s number one concern is what will happen after those soldiers leave. The community is preparing hard security, cameras, etc., in the interim, and parents of students are being prepared in protection and security strategies.

   Meetings with the Ministry of Interior and the Prime Minister’s office focused on their responses to the radicalized Muslim population. They know that more than 1,000 French citizens have gone to Syria for training.

   French citizens have been converting to Islam for decades. But it used to be for spiritual reasons; now it is for political reasons. Even a few Jews are doing so.

   The efforts to recruit the French (and, I would add, the world) to radicalized Islam are incredibly sophisticated. Use of internet and social media, and recruiting in gathering places and targeted neighborhoods are growing daily.

   Ironically, government offices, CRIF and other Jewish groups, asked us to go home and use our influence to get Google, Facebook and Twitter to stop allowing hate speech.

   One day they say, “We are Charlie” in solidarity with the magazine; the next, they ask for censorship. They said they respect our reverence for the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, but they don’t “get it” (their words).

   Some positive things are happening that need mention. Muslims and Jews are having dialogues. Many organized Muslims are afraid of the radicalization and how it can tear apart their religion and communities.

   A bus is touring the country with a leading Muslim (journalist and former imam in Marseilles) and a Jewish leader (traditional rabbi) who speak to the communities they visit. They educate, organize, try to moderate rhetoric and enhance understanding.

   They have reached more than 1,000 towns/cities in the last decade, so it is slow and steady.

   France also has the largest Muslim population in Europe. Coexistence and better cross-cultural understanding are the only ways to improve the tolerance so badly needed in this proud and nationalistic country.

   We know that as Americans, which is why we have a robust community relations strategy nationally and in Wisconsin (the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council). CRIF and others will continue to look at that model.

   We expected to hear, “Help us get out of here,” but we didn’t. French Jews want to protect Jewish communities and Jews individually, and they want to see France succeed. They see those things going hand in hand.

   Our national system, JFNA, did a mitzvah in bring us to Paris for 48 hours — to show solidarity in crisis, to educate ourselves, to listen, to learn to support and to build relationships. It was an honor to participate.

   Hannah Rosenthal is president and CEO of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.