Though he’s been in Israel for less than a year and is far from his family, Thibault already feels more at home there than he ever did in his native France.

On May 3, 2015, a delegation from the Cleveland Muslim community joined members of the Jewish community at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple’s Annual Meeting where Lassana Bathily was the guest speaker. Bathily, a young Muslim-Malian immigrant to France, was recognized for his courage and heroism in the face of terror.

As you may know, France has the largest Jewish population in Europe and the third largest Jewish population in the world. The vast majority are Sephardi and came from North Africa and the Mediterranean region. There has been a Jewish presence in France since the beginning of the Middle Ages. In fact, France was the first country in Europe to emancipate the Jews during the French Revolution.

Since August 21, I have been living in the 16th arrondissement (neighborhood) of Paris, France with my husband and two children (Natalie 14 & Quinn 11).

Send Support to the French Jewish Community

Meet Jennifer, a local Clevelander and Jewish Federation of Cleveland Board of Trustee, who moved her family overseas to France for a year. She now shares with us her experience during the last week.

Jewish Federations Condemn Attacks, Express Support for the People of France