The Jewish Agency of Israel sent a solidarity delegation to France in the wake of increasing antisemitic incidents in the country. While the stated aim was to show support for Jews living in France, the option of aliyah to Israel was also emphasized.
Jewish Agency representatives met with CRIF, the umbrella of French Jewish organizations, Consistoire and Israeli ambassador Yossi Gal. They also visited the kosher Supermarket Hyper Cacher, where four people were killed on erev Shabbat and met with a survivor from the attack, Sandra Charabi, according to a press release.
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The President of Keren HaYesod in France, Richard Pasquier, praised Masa, a Birthright-style program that brings Jews from across the world on trips to Israel. Natan Sharanksy, Executive of the Jewish Agency, said in the wake of the recent terror attacks, support will remain strong for Jews in France and, “we stand ready to serve any French Jew who wishes to make Aliyah and any who wishes to lead a robust life in the land of Israel.”
The number of French Jews emigrating to Israel has doubled to 7, 000 in 2014 over the previous year and has tripled since 2012. The French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, encouraged French Jews not to abandon the country and told the Atlantic, “If 100, 000 French people of Spanish origin were to leave, I would never say that France is not France anymore. But if 100, 000 Jews leave, France will no longer be France. The French Republic will be judged a failure.”
