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Published on 10 October 2024
Crif - A year after October 7: Crif hosted a tribute ceremony gathering 4 000 people
Many political and public figures were present Monday, October 7, evening at the Dôme de Paris to honor the memory of the 1,200 people who lost their lives, cowardly murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7 in Israel, and to show their solidarity with the hostages and their families. 100 people are still being held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including two French citizens, Ohad Yahalomi and Ofer Kalderon.
The ceremony was held in the presence of Prime Minister Michel Barnier as well as many ministers and Secretaries of State.
Former Presidents of the Republic Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande were present at this commemoration, as well as former Prime Ministers Manuel Valls and Gabriel Attal.
The President of the National Assembly (French Parliament), Yaël Braun-Pivet, the President of the Ile-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse, the President of the Hauts-de-France region, Xavier Bertrand and the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi are also present as well as many deputies and prefects.
Representatives of institutions and religious leader were also present to honor the memory of the victims.
The Ghnassia, Radoux, Kalderon and Yahalomi families also attended this ceremony. The President of the Crif underlined how much we share their pain.
The ceremony opened with the screening of a film retracing the life of the kibbutzim before October 7. The audience then observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims murdered on October 7.
Crif President opened his speech with these words: "How is it already October 7th when it is still October 7th? It was yesterday, it was an eternity ago."
Yonathan Arfi recalled how "one year" was a symbolic passage in the Jewish religion, a passage between the time of mourning and the time of remembrance. "But how can we move on to the time of remembrance when 100 people are still being held hostage by Hamas."
On October 7th, "places of life were transformed into places of torture and places of celebration into places of carnage. Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Be'eri, Nova... these names now also resonate as the stigmata of the antisemitic hatred that has crossed the century."
"On October 7th, Israel Israel has been struck in the heart. For Jews, wherever they live, it was a shock, then a dizzying feeling of insecurity."
Yonathan Arfi, Crif President
The President of the Crif also recalled the right to live for Israel, "the right and the means to defend oneself".
Looking back on the last 12 months, Yonathan Arfi reiterated how "the mourning had not yet begun that antisemitism was spreading everywhere".
Yonathan Arfi then paid tribute to Dominique Bernard, assassinated on October 13 in Arras by an Islamist terrorist. "Dominique Bernard is also a French victim of October 7, let us not forget that."
Crif President concluded his speech with these words: "We must always and always overcome shock to act [...] in order to build a world where dignity will prevail over cowardice, fraternity over hatred, hope over chaos".
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier then spoke. He mentionned his trip to Israel in February 2024, with Crif, in the presence of many parliamentarians. During this solidarity trip, the delegation went to Be'eri and the neighboring town of Ofaqim. "This visit had a deep and lasting impact on all of us. We will not forget, I will not forget our exchange with survivors and the families of the victims and the ceremony the following day on the hostage square in Tel Aviv."
The Prime Minister also reiterated his "commitment to doing everything possible" to see the hostages freed. "France never abandons its children."
Michel Barnier forcefully said: "I want to say and repeat that the security of the State of Israel is not and will never be negotiable. The security of the people of Israel [...] is not negotiable. […] this people finds itself today, and since October 7 in particular, in a situation of legitimate defense.”
The Prime Minister concluded his speech with a very strong commitment: “More than ever, the atrocities of October 7 must not happen again, and I make this commitment today before you on behalf of the government, we will never forget.”
The evening was then rythmed by readings of texts and tributes, speeches and songs
Humorist Sophia Aram spoke with great emotion on the theme of "loneliness". "A solitude felt by all those who for one reason or another, look Islamist barbarity in the face without lowering their eyes." She forcefully recalled how October 7 was "the starting point for an explosion of antisemitic acts in France and throughout the world."
French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy also spoke, recalling how since October 7, we have had to experience the ordeal of collective mourning. Our mourning was "stolen." "While we tried to mourn, some, many [...] continued to defile [the victims]."
The faces of 44 French victims were then brought onto the stage by the representatives of the collectives for a sequence dedicated to the tribute to the French victims.
Sandrine Kiberlain and Joann Sfar went on stage to read texts in tribute to the victims.
The Chief Rabbi of France Haïm Korsia then recited the prayer for the Republic.
A new sequence then opened on the surge in antisemitic acts in France. The main French Jewish organizations presidents, Ariel Goldmann and Élie Korchia, as well as Mario Stasi, president of the Licra, read excerpts from complaints filed by French Jews, victims of antisemitic attacks or acts.
A film was then shown in parallel with French TV star Arthur's speech, on the impressive mobilization of the groups, associations and collectives created after October 7th which have been mobilized everywhere, in the streets and on social networks to call for the release of the hostages. Arthur paid tribute to those who "chose to fight".
French actors Charlotte Gainsbourg and Yvan Attal then read texts in tribute to the hostages.
A message from the President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog was then broadcast to the assembly.
The ceremony ended with the broadcast of a film about Israel and the singing of La Marseillais, the French national anthem.
Crif will remain mobilized and call for the release of all the hostages until they are all back home. #BringThemHome