The Paris Palais des Congrès, bursting at the seams, celebrated with enthusiasm both the State visit of the Israeli President and the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Hebrew State.
Beginning with a minute’s silence in memory of the Merkaz Harav yeshiva students murdered in Jerusalem, and after listening to the two national anthems, the Hatikva and the Marseillaise, the evening unfolded with a succession of speeches and splendid music completed by a film recounting the parallel stories of Shimon Peres’ life and that of the Jewish State.
A rendition of popular songs concluded this special evening that was brilliantly emceed by Francis Kalifat, the treasurer of CRIF.
In a very moving speech, Shimon Peres recalled his story and insisted on the essential contribution from France, which proved vital for the State’s survival in its early years and for its development faced with the armed hostility of 40 million Arabs.
A little earlier, CRIF President Richard Prasquier had welcomed President Peres in these terms:
“I am pleased to welcome you here this evening in my position as President of CRIF and political representative of the Jewish community in France.
(…) You represent history, you know it and you meditate on it, but you take care to keep it behind you and not in front of you. You are more interested in the future than in the past, and this allows you to fully live the present.
(…)
Having therefore been received by the French Republic, you are this evening meeting one of its components, France’s Jewish community. All the Jewish organisations and representatives of communities from across the Greater Paris region and even beyond are present this evening and it is a united community that has come together to honour you.
It is a diverse community, it is enthusiastic, its heart beats for the State of Israel and it accepts its double loyalty all the more readily that France’s outlook on Israel is once again sympathetic and understanding. I wish to thank all the politicians, who despite the forthcoming election deadlines have made a point of being here with us to testify to this friendship between France and Israel. And because you have been one of its key players, you know that the rekindling of this friendship has been deferred for far too long.
Mr President of the State of Israel, your name symbolises the quest for peace, the perspective of a future where economic, scientific and above all ideological development will be put to the service of mankind. (…)
Exactly one week ago to the hour we were hearing the worst possible news, the murder of yet yeshiva students in Jerusalem. We have heard that in some circles the assassin is considered a hero and that some commentators have been showing a kind of “understanding” for this abominable deed. And we are revolted. Not, as some would accuse us, because we are indifferent to the children who have died in Gaza, far from it. But how can one compare a child killed because a terrorist had drawn him close while he was firing rockets at civilians, with another child killed at point blank range while his head was buried in a study or prayer book? (…) We have wanted to show that all of France’s Jewish community stands united with Israel in the dark moments as in the happy ones. We know the meaning of the glass broken under the huppa: there is no joy without pain. Mr President of the State of Israel, we are happy and proud to welcome you.”
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