PARIS, France – Many French Jews who attended the medical aliyah expo in Paris on Sunday cited rising anti-Semitism in the country as a motive for moving to Israel, but officials say Zionism argued that this is the main factor behind the desire to migrate to the country.
At the International Medical Aliyah Program, a joint project between the Ministry of Immigration, the Ministry of Health, Nefesh B’Nefesh, and the Jewish Agency, doctors shared their concerns as organizers helped prepare immigration documents and plans.
Ronen Djebari, a medical student and future family doctor, said he was concerned about the rise in anti-Semitism in France following the October 7 massacre. He experienced anti-Semitism while playing soccer with a Jewish team, during which they were jeered at as “bad Jews.” However, his Zionist feelings also played a strong role in his desire to emigrate with his wife and two children.
“I love Israel, so I wanted to make aliyah before my visit,” said Jebari, who was at the expo to help streamline Israel’s certification process. “Our place is in Israel.” People hold placards at a rally in Jerusalem following the terrorist attack in France, January 11 (Credit: Reuters)
A doctor’s wife who was at the expo said she and her husband had been thinking about aliyah for a long time and had never experienced anti-Semitism in a majority-Jewish neighborhood. An ophthalmology student who came to investigate possible future immigration said he had never experienced anti-Semitism himself, but the rising level of anti-Semitism made him reluctant to live in Israel. She said she hopes so.
Surrounded by like-minded people, French Olim finds refuge
“Israel is my homeland,” the student said.
A French medical student studying abroad in Switzerland said he was interested in making aliyah to be surrounded by like-minded people.
“I want to be able to express my opinions without hiding my identity or opinions,” the student said.
The student said she has endured veiled comments and uncomfortable silences in conversations with colleagues, including when she told others about her visit to Israel over the summer.
Emmanuel Zion, director of the French Jewish Agency, told The Jerusalem Post that “Zionism is the main reason for forcing people to make aliyah” and that anti-Semitism and fears of war were contributing factors.
Zion said French Jews are very Zionist and have strong ties to Israel, and many have long wanted to immigrate to Israel and help build the state. A new program will make it easier.
Zion and other officials from the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Immigration announced such a new program to local French Jews Sunday night at the Great Synagogue of Paris.
Blue and white mood lighting and decorations filled the halls, residents danced and sang, and the atmosphere was one of a celebration of Zionism and Jewish identity, as residents danced and sang to welcome the surprise reunion of a lone French-Israeli IDF soldier and his parents. It became an atmosphere. There was no mention of anti-Semitism by officials, but the event was held under tight security and police protection.
