Over 2,000 Jews from all over France, and of all shades of religious practice, attended the Jewish Agency's mega-Aliyah Fair held in Paris last Sunday. The event was held under heavy security, due to the recent wave of anti-Semitic attacks on Jewish institutions in France.
The fair featured 45 stands set up by Israeli industries, mortgage banks, municipalities (Nahariya, Ashkelon, and Jerusalem), educational institutions, the Jewish Agency and the government. Visitors received first-hand information on employment, housing, and educational options available to prospective immigrants in Israel. Aliyah (immigration to Israel) from France last year - 2,500 Jews - was more than double that of the preceding year, although the rate is down so far in 2003.
The Jewish Agency reports that anti-Semitic incidents in France have risen in the past several weeks. On March 11, a woman student in Aix-en-Provence was attacked and beaten, and a Star of David was carved into her arm. On March 22, two Jewish youths participating in a HaShomer HaTza'ir youth movement activity were beaten by a mob participating in an anti-war demonstration. Two days later, a small fire was discovered in the rear of a synagogue in Cachan, and the same week vandals stoned a woman entering the Garges-les-Gonesse synagogue. The synagogue of Massy was firebombed in late March.
The fair featured 45 stands set up by Israeli industries, mortgage banks, municipalities (Nahariya, Ashkelon, and Jerusalem), educational institutions, the Jewish Agency and the government. Visitors received first-hand information on employment, housing, and educational options available to prospective immigrants in Israel. Aliyah (immigration to Israel) from France last year - 2,500 Jews - was more than double that of the preceding year, although the rate is down so far in 2003.
The Jewish Agency reports that anti-Semitic incidents in France have risen in the past several weeks. On March 11, a woman student in Aix-en-Provence was attacked and beaten, and a Star of David was carved into her arm. On March 22, two Jewish youths participating in a HaShomer HaTza'ir youth movement activity were beaten by a mob participating in an anti-war demonstration. Two days later, a small fire was discovered in the rear of a synagogue in Cachan, and the same week vandals stoned a woman entering the Garges-les-Gonesse synagogue. The synagogue of Massy was firebombed in late March.