TIME TO CLARIFY, WHY NOT FRANCE?

After horrid white supremacy reared its evil head in view of the entire world this past weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia maybe this is just a good time as any to clarify why going to France had never been on my radar. It doesn't take a history buff especially if you are Jewish to remember France has never been a friend of the Jews. 

In July of 1942 in Paris there was a systematic round up known as the Vel d'Hiv (Rafle du Velodrome d'Hiver) where police systematically temporarily confined over 13,000 Jews, 4000 of those children, in the city's bicycle velodrome and stadium before sending them off in cattle cars for extermination in the concentration camps. Anti-semitism persists even though France elected a Jewish president Nicolas Sarkozy.  Since 2010 there has been a large exodus of Jews from France as anti-semitism has been on the rise. (Can I draw a parallel here where the U.S. elected a Black president and look what's happening now?)

Suffice it to say I was especially hesitant going near Paris's Jewish district, Marais, a couple of weeks ago. Why be a sitting duck? I know life goes on and what are the chances, right? When a comment I made about stopping in a deli was misinterpreted (I meant let's pick up some cheese, bread, sandwich meat, etc... for a picnic lunch/dinner), I found myself in the Jewish district with a well intentioned host scouting out a restaurant for lunch and wouldn't you know the Tour de France was ending that very day in Paris... A lot of people.

So here are some photos of our visit to Marais.

The Jewish 

Museum,

 Wedding Venue & Catering ,

 

 Patisserie,

 Boys School

The popular Middle Eastern Felafel stands and patrons 

and an extra Rebbe to look after us all...

OK, nothing happened but living in fear is not a good thing no matter where you live.

May our country/world find its way back to civility. If history teaches us anything, it's to not remain silent.