Is there a Future for French Jews? An Interview with Michel Gurfinkiel

Anne Bayefsky, editor of Eye on the UN and former Senior Fellow of the Hudson Institute. Rachel at the time was the co-President of the Yale Friends of Israel. Gurfinkiel we learned at the Davenport encounter has American cousins in Connecticut. 

Flags of Muslim Majority Countries, Place de la Bastille, May 7, 2012
Election Victory for President Francois Hollande

here.

Against this background we reached out to Michel Gurfinkiel for his unique and Cassandra-like view of the future of both France and its Jews.

You passed from a situation where you had Jews but no Judaism to a situation where you have a lot of Jews and a demand for Judaism. You had what I call a critical mass affect.

Last but not least you had years of triumph for Israel and French Jews were very close to Israel. They were close geographically, they were close politically. Moreover, until 1967 there was a sense that France as a country was a strong friend of Israel. The saga of Israel certainly helped the French Jews to be more assertive as Jews.

When you follow the demographic surveys of the Jewish population of the world issued by the Jewish Agency in Israel there appears to be in recent years a declining Jewish population in France. They estimate that the Jewish population of France dropped to less than 500,000 souls in 2012. When you look at different sources you come to totally different results. Since 1994 you have an annual survey on the religious attitudes of the French and this survey is conducted much in the same way as the Pew survey in America. This means that people are free to self define themselves as Jews. It is very inclusive. Intermarried couples are taken as Jewish couples. This survey covers everyone in France.

We have as a result activities including publishing books, Jewish days in schools, conducting Jewish radio or Jewish TV programs and you have a robust market. In cities like Paris and Marseille and a few other places you have a feeling of a very vital and vibrant Jewish community.

Now, of course, there are still French Jews who may be hesitant about Israel and might consider going to North America, especially the United States. Many of these people are buying houses in Florida or in other places in the US. Young Jewish professionals who are finding out that it is easier for a young person to be fully Jewish in many countries in the world besides Israel. Some for example are moving to London, other European countries and even amazingly Jewish clusters in East Asia.

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