France
From JudaismWiki
FRANCE. The first Jews to reach France probably traveled in the wake of conquering Roman legions. Historical records show that, in the 7th century, Jewish farmers, artisans, and merchants had settled in most French provinces. During the reign of Charlemagne from 768-814, Jews controlled the country’s import-export trade and enjoyed considerable civil and religious freedom. A century later, when Charlemagne’s empire began to break up, harsh restrictions were imposed. Then the Crusades, beginning in 1096, brought persecution and often death. Entire communities were martyred for their faith. The Church brought every possible charge against them. Beginning in 1171, when all the Jews of Blois were burnt at the stake, the community was beset with blood accusations and repeated charges that Jews desecrated Catholic forms of worship. Four years later, the French king ordered 24 wagon loads of the Talmud burnt publicly in Paris after a “disputation” on the merits of the Jewish faith. Nonetheless, two great centers of learning flourished in medieval France: one in the northeast, mainly in Champagne, the other in the south, in Provence and Languedoc. Rashi, the “Prince of Bible commentators,” was perhaps the greatest French Jewish scholar.
Persecution by both church and state culminated in the decree of 1394, expelling the entire community from France. Nevertheless, scattered settlements remained, especially in the south. These grew during the following centuries, as ever greater numbers of Spanish and Portuguese refugees from the Inquisition sought haven in France. A further addition came in 1648, when Alsace, with its ancient Jewish community, was annexed by France. By the time of the Revolution of 1789, France was home to 40,000 Jews, most of whom were forced to live in ghettos where they were deprived of all legal rights.
The revolution wrought a radical change in this respect. A decree promulgated in 1791 declared Jews to be full citizens of France. Napoleon, however, soon curbed this freedom. Calling a Sanhedrin of Jewish notables, he gained approval for a program that placed Jews directly under his control. He then proceeded to restrict their economic and political activities.
These restrictions remained in force after the emperor’s downfall; it was not, in fact, until 1846 that the last of the disabilities was removed. Yet even then the battle against antisemitism had not ended: as Jews began to take a prominent place in the social, cultural, and political life of France, reactionary elements in the Church and army began a campaign to undermine the Jewish position. The strength of these elements was shown in the 1890’s, when the conviction on falsified charges of treason of a Jewish army officer named Dreyfus set off a conflict between the liberal and reactionary forces in the country. It took almost a decade, and the efforts of such men as Emile Zola, to free Dreyfus, despite clear evidence of innocence. His exoneration, however, marked the defeat of Church and army, and the beginning of a new era in the history of France, as well as French Jewry.
The subjugation of France by Germany in 1940 brought about a revival of antisemitism on a scale never before known to the country: the entire Nazi program of racism became law. Yet with the help of the French population, more Jews survived the war in France than in any other West European country. Since the war, the life of the Jewish community has returned to pre-war normalcy. Again, Jews such as Pierre Mendes-France, who served as premier in 1955, have risen to eminence. In 1998, there were about 525,000 Jews in France, many of them refugees of World War II. This figure includes those who came to France since 1961 from North Africa: 100,000 from Algeria, 30,000 from Tunisia and Morocco. Jewish life is organized in consistories, boards of one rabbi and four laymen, concerned with Jewish affairs in each of the seven districts into which the community is divided. A central consistory, made up of the chief rabbi and a representative of each consistory, coordinates activities on a national level, and serves as a link between the Jewish community and the ministry of public worship. Since 1860, the Alliance Israélite Universelle has been an important factor in the life of French Jewry, serving as a link between it and world Jewry. French Jews are active in the textile, garment, fur, leather, and jewelry industries, and have distinguished themselves in law, medicine, journalism, and banking.
Synagogues
Aix en Provence
Centre Communautaire d'Aix en Provence 3 rue de Jerusalem Aix en Provence Orthodox Tel: 04 42 26 69 39
Antony
Beth Loubavitch of Massy 68 Avenue du President Kennedy Antony Orthodox Tel: 33-1-46-66-43-61 Fax: 33-1-60-13-06-8
Aubervilliers
Beth Loubavitch of Massy 68 Avenue du President Kennedy Antony ORTHODOX Tel: 33-1-46-66-43-61 Fax: 33-1-60-13-06-8
Avignon
Avignon 2 place de jerusalem Avignon 84000 Orthodox Tel: 04 90 85 21 24
Besancon
Synagogue & Centre Communautaire J Cahen 53 quai de strasbourg rue Mayence Besancon
Bonneuil
Beth Loubavitch de Bonneuil 57 Rue Gedrges Fernand Bonneuil
Boulogne
Beth Loubavitch de Bonneuil 57 Rue Gedrges Fernand Bonneuil
Brunoy
Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim 2 Bis Avenue Du Petit Chateau Brunoy
Cannes
Habad Lubavitch of Cannes 22 Rue du Cdt. Vidal Cannes
Choisy Le Roi
Beth Loubavitch of Choisy 3 Ter Rue De Verdun Choisy Le Roi
Creteil
Beth Loubavitch de Creteil 21, Rue des Refugniks Creteil ORTHODOX Tel: 33-1-43-77-13-81 Fax: 33-1-43-99-47-45
Dijon
Synagogue de Dijon Website 5 rue de la synagogue Dijon 21000 Conservative Tel: 0380 66 46 47
Fontenay Sous Bois
Gan of Fontenay 3 Rue Jean Zay Fontenay Sous Bois
Grenoble
Beit Habad Grenoble 10 Rue Lazare Carnot. Grenoble
Lille
Beth Chabad Lille Website 45 Avenue J.F. Kenedy Lille Chabad Lubavitch Tel: 33-3-20-85-27-37 Fax: 33-3-20-85-27-37
Lyon
Beth Habad Lubavitch of Lyon 293 Rue Francis De Pressense Lyon Orthodox Tel: 33-4-78-89-08-32 Fax: 33-4-72-44-01-37
Marseille
Beth Habad 58-60 Rue de la Paix Marseille Tel: 33-4-91-56-24-31 Fax: 33-4-91-90-60-08
Beth Habad of Marseille 112 Bd Barry Marseille Tel: 33-4-91-06-00-61 Fax: 33-4-91-61-45-47
Union Liberale Israelite de France 21 rue Martiny 337 rue Paradis Marseille Progressive Tel: 33 4 91 37 54 31 Fax: 33 4 91 37 54 31 update
Montpellier
Beth Habad Montpellier 9 Rue Des Blanquiers Montpellier Tel: 33-467-92-86-93 Fax: 33-4-67-92-90-04
Montrouge
Beth Loubavitch de Montrouge 51 Rue Racine Montrouge Tel: 33-1-46-56-79-51 Fax: 33-1-46-56-79-51
Nantes
Rachi 5 Impasse Copernic Nantes 44000 Modern Tel: 00 33 663 166 488 Fax: 00 33 272 022 016
Neuilly sur Seine
Beth Habad Lubavitch de Neuilly sur Seine 5 rue raoul Nordling Neuilly sur Seine http://chabad-lubavitch-neuilly.blogspot.com/
Nice
Beth Lubavitch - Habad of Nice 22 Rue Rossini Nice 06000 Tel: 33-4-93-82-46-86 Fax: 33-4-93-88-29-18
Ezrat A'him 1, rue Blacas Nice 06000 Orthodox http://www.synablacas.com/
Maayane Or 16. Rue Verdi Nice 06000 Conservative Tel: 04 93 88 25 20
Orleans
Communauté Israelite d'Orleans (CIO) 14 rue Robert de Courtenay Orleans 45000
Paris
Adath Shalom Website 8 Rue George Bernard Shaw Paris Conservative http://www.adathshalom.org
Annelets 36 rue des Annelets 19eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 42 06 99 46
Association Pour Un Judaisme Humaniste Et Laique 253 Avenue Daumesnil Paris Humanistic Tel: 33 1-40-19-99-70 Fax: 33 1-43-07-05-10
Barye 10, rue Barye 17eme arrondissement Paris Sephardi Tel: 01 48 88 90 87 update
Basfroi 18, rue Basfroi 11eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 43 48 82 42 update
Basfroi 36, rue Basfroi 11eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 43 67 89 20 update
Bayen 67, rue Bayen 17eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 45 72 53 50 update
Belleville 118 bd de Belleville 20eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 43 49 39 59 update
Belleville 120 bd de Belleville 20eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 43 66 66 93
Beth Hanna 25 Rue Riquet Paris Orthodox
Beth Loubavitch 8, rue Lamartine - 75009 750 Paris http://www.loubavitch.fr/pages/accueil.asp
Beth Loubavitch Flandre 59-65 Rue de Flandre Paris
Beth Loubavitch Orteaux 93 Rue des Orteaux Paris Tel: 33-1-40-24-10-60 Fax: 33-1-40-09-23-56
Beth Loubavitch Plc Des Fetes 53 Rue Compans Paris Tel: 33-1-40-30-56-59 Fax: 33-1-40-30-57-38
Beth Loubavitch-Paris 20 82 Rue Couronnes Paris
Bourg-Tibourg 24 rue Bourg-Tibourg 4eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 42 78 08 37 update
Buffault 28 rue Buffault 9eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 45 26 80 87 update
Bureau Lubavitch Europeen 8 Rue Meslay Paris 75003 Tel: 33-1-48-87-87-12 Fax: 33-1-48 87 87 70 http://www.chabad-fr.org/
Cadet 10 rue Cadet 9eme arrondissement Paris Orthodox Tel: 01 42 46 36 47
Chabad of France Paris Tel: 33-1 48-87-87-12 Fax: 33-1 48.87.87.70 http://www.chabad-fr.org/
Chasseloup-Laubat 14 rue Chasseloup-Laubat 15eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 42 73 36 29
Cite de L'Eduction Snai 2-8 Rue Tristan Tzara Paris ORTHODOX Tel: 33-1-40-38-02-02 Fax: 33-1-40-38-07-71 update
CJL - Communaute Juive Liberale Ile de France 40 rue St Germain Paris Progressive Tel: 33 1 4293 0344 Fax: 33 1 4293 1155
Copernic - Union Liberale Israelite de France Rue Copernic 24 Paris 75116 Reform Tel: 33 1 4704 3727 Fax: 33 1 4727 8102
Domrémy 19, rue Domrémy 13eme arrondissement Paris
Doudeauville 80 rue Doudeauville 18eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 46 06 12 24
Ecouffes 18 rue des Ecouffes 4eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 48 87 97 86 update
Eperon 8 bis rue de l'Eperon 6eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 46 33 43 31
Ezras Menachem 5 Rue Des Solitaipres Paris Orthodox Tel: 33-1-42-00-05-53 Fax: 33-1-42-38-21-32
Faubourg Saint Honoré 218 - 220, rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré 8eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 45 61 20 25
Fondary 13 rue Fondary 15eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 40 59 96 56
Galvani 19-21 rue Galvani 17eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 45 74 52 80
Henri Murger 11, rue Henri Murger 19eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 42 49 25 00
Isaure 13 rue Saint-Isaure 18eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 42 64 48 34
Ivry 59, av d'Ivry 13eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 45 82 80 73 update
Kehilat Gesher - La Communaute Juive Franco-Anglophon 10 rue de Pologne , St. Germain-en-Laye 7 rue Leon Cogniet, Paris 17th Paris Liberal http://www.kehilatgesher.org
Lacroix 75 rue Julien Lacroix 20eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 46 36 30 10
Lamartine 8 rue Lamartine 9eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 45 26 87 60
Liberte Du Judaisme 8, rue de la Providence Paris Humanistic Tel: 331-45-81-54-49 Fax: 331-45-88-70-19
Michel Ange 6 bis, rue Michel Ange 16eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 44 14 71 23
Michkenot Israel Website 6, rue Jean Nohain 19eme arrondissement Paris Orthodox Tel: 01 48 03 25 59
Michkenoth Israel 6 rue Jean Nohain rue clovis hughes & armand carrel Paris 19 Orthodox Tel: 01 48 03 25 59 Fax: 01 42 00 26 87
MJLF (Mouvement Juif Libéral de France) 11 rue gaston de caillavet Paris Progressive http://search.mywebsearch.com/mywebsearch/GGmain.jhtml?searchfor=www.mjlf.col.fr&PG=SEASUSH&SEC=DNS&ptnrS=ZRxdm429YYUS&st=dns
Montévidéo 5 bis, rue de Montévidéo 16eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 45 03 42 93
Moynet 12-14 cité Moynet 12eme arrondissement Paris --Unknown-- Tel: 01 43 47 36 78
Nazareth 15 rue ND de Nazareth 3eme arrondissement Paris Orthodox Tel: 01 42 78 00 30
Neve Shalom rue sibuet Paris 12eme Sephardi
Pavée 10 rue Pavée 4eme arrondissement Paris Orthodox Tel: 01 48 87 21 54
Petit 47 - 51, rue Petit 19eme arrondissement Paris
Picpus 76 rue de Picpus 12eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 43 44 78 10
Plateau 11 rue du Plateau 19eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 42 46 47 03
Rashi Shul Website 6, rue Ambroise Thomas 9eme arrondissement Paris Orthodox Tel: 01 48 24 86 94
Riquet 15 rue Riquet 19eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 40 38 23 36
Roquette 84-86 rue de la Roquette 11eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 47 00 75 95
Rosiers 25, rue des Rosiers 4eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 44 59 82 36
Rosiers 17, rue des Rosiers 4eme arrondissement Paris
Saint-Blaise 43 rue Saint-Blaise 20eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 43 56 03 11
Saint-Lazare 18 rue Saint-Lazare 9eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 48 78 45 32
Saules 42 rue des Saules 18eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 46 06 71 39
Saulnier 3 rue Saulnier 9eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 47 70 09 23
Saulnier 4 rue Saulnier 9eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 40 22 94 40
Tournelles 21 bis rue des Tournelles 4eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 42 74 32 80
Vauqueline 9 rue Vauquelin 5eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 47 07 21 22
Vercingetorix 223 rue Vercingetorix 14eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 45 45 50 51
Vergniaud 61 - 65, rue Vergniaud 13eme arrondissement Paris 75013 Orthodox Tel: 01 45 88 93 84
Victoire Website 4 rue de la Victoire 9eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 40 82 26 26
Vosges 14 place des Vosges 4eme arrondissement Paris Tel: 01 48 87 79 45 update
S. Denis
Beth Habad S. Denis-Ohr Menachem 1 Rue Emile Connoy S. Denis Tel: 33-1-42-43-56-58 Fax: 33-1-42-43-00-04
Sarcelles
Beth Chabad Lubavitch of Sarcelles 43 Avenue du 8 Mai 1945 Sarcelles Tel: 33-1-39-92-13-92 Fax: 33-1-34 04 27 06
Strasbourg
Beth Habad Strasbourg 59 Rue du Faubourg de Pierre Strasbourg Tel: 33-3-88-75-66-05 Fax: 33-3-88-75-63-58
JCC of Strasbourg - la Paix 1a rue du Grand Rabbin Ren Hirschler Strasbourg 67000 Orthodox http://www.cisonline.org/
Minyan Ami 1 rue Silbermann Strasbourg Orthodox http://www.ou.org/network/new/fr-ma.htm
Union Juive Liberale de Strasbourg Strasbourg Liberal http://www.ujls.org/
Toulouse
Communaute Juive Liberale - Toulouse 13 rue du Colonel Driant Toulouse Reform
Jeunesse Lubavitch-Beth Habad Toulouse 8 Rue Pont Montaudran Toulouse Tel: 33-5-61-62-46-84 Fax: 33-5-61-62-86-79
Villeneuve La Garanne
Beth Loubavitch of Villeneuve 12 Alle S. Exupery Villeneuve La Garanne
Villeurbanne
Torath Emeth 52 rue Hippolyte Kahn Villeurbanne 69100 Orthodox Tel: +33 4 72 65 08 12
Yerres
Ohel Menahem 35 rue Danielle Casanova Yerres 91330 Chabad Lubavitch Tel: 0169492052
Jewish Museums
Museum of Jewish Art and History 71, rue de Temple 75003 Paris http://www.mahj.org/defaultgb.htm
