Jean Bartel

Well, I live in France and I would like to make profitable use of this sorry opportunity to enlighten you about some rarely commented realities on Jews in France. May I precise that I am not Jew myself, and that I am going to do my best to make this comment as objective as possible.

Doctors, Dentists, and Entrepreneurs

Since my childhood, I have had countless opportunities to hear people talking about Jews, much more than opportunities to meet Jews, to talk with them and to listen to point of view about gentiles. For the French Jewish community is a tiny minority, actually. Most French Jews are entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, and work in the health branch. They also are well represented in the media and communication industry. Many of them are involved in politics and most of those lasts are left-leaning persons; a fact that may surprise some since it seems to contradict a long Jewish tradition of entrepreneurship, and a religious inspired behavior free of all inhibition about the pleasures of private property.
 

François Hollande And Ségolène Royale

As a matter of fact, the French Socialist Party (P.S.) counts numerous Jews in his ranks and the leader of this party, François Hollande, is of Jewish origin and is married to the would-be French president, Ségolène Royale, a Jew.
 

The Prominence Of Ex-Communists

Anti-Semitism and Jews are taboo subjects in France. In the French society, at job, during dinners and most other social customs, talking about Jews is perceived as a tricky subject very few dare to engage in. Try to engage the conversation about Jews during a party and you will immediately notice a general unease around you. The simple fact to pronounce the words "Jew," or "Jewish," will inescapably make most French feel uncomfortable, if there are other people listening around. Actually, the only persons with whom I have been able to talk freely about Jews and anti-Semitism are of Jewish origin.

The Holocaust Is Cocktail Conversation

On the contrary, countless TV programs, books, and articles on the Holocaust have been, and still are broadcasted and published, and it is a recurrent topic. The Israeli-Palestinian question is, by far, the most debated and commented subject when foreign affairs arise during a news program on the French TV; much more than it may be in United States.
 

The Ultimate Insult

Nowadays, the worst bad adjective French can attribute to somebody is “Nazi.” This last fact helps understand why French who don’t like George Bush like to call him a “Nazi.” There is just nothing worse. Also, French mistakenly consider that Hitler and his national socialist party belong to the French far right.

France Keeps A Close Eye On Anti-Semites

Even London's mayor is non gratias. There is even a French law that allows you to sue anyone has uttered anti-Semitic statements or has displayed –even in an antique store- artifacts and collectors bearing the Swastika. You would immediately ostracize yourself and people around you would keep aloof if ever you attempted to read Mein Kampf on the table of a French café, or worse, if ever you had the good nerve to order that book in a bookstore or in a French library. In such last case, all your claims to be a student in political sciences would meet flat incredulity.

Whispers Around The Dining Table

But what suggests the aforesaid reassuring appearances masks a reality one may uncover during much more private conversations. During those privileged moment shared with trusted relatives you will hear, at last, about this legendary, and omnipotent, and omnipresent and centuries-long Jewish power that secretly governs the world in which you live. You’ll seldom hear about the Protocol of the Elder of Zion, in revenge. For few French of the last generations have ever heard of; except some above-the-average educated persons and other scholars. You’ll hardly fail to recognize this quick knowing taunting smile on the face of your interlocutor when you’ll bring conversation about this shopkeeper, teacher, or dentist in your town named Levy.

Just Don't Have The Ashkazian Look

Example: the degree of hostility accorded to a prominent person of Jewish origin owes to a sizeable extent to physical criteria. In other words, a Jew whose physical features do not look “typically” Jew is much less likely to suffer negative a priori. The actor Paul Newman has been very popular and considered as a sex symbol in France, because, though of Jewish origin, his face doesn’t look much Jewish according to the French standards.

Beautiful French Women

Other considerations may change considerably the way French may perceive a Jew. A successful and rich Jewish businessman, actor, or singer, is much likely to be sharply criticized with regard to his Jewish origin; while the Jewish origin of a prominent leftist politician will be pointed out by those who stand on the opposite political side, in most cases. A rich and successful Jewish entrepreneur who has a date with a striking beauty will be well advised to hire a bodyguard, especially if his Jewish physical features are pronounced and easily identifiable. A prominent scientist is likely to be criticized or disliked by French gentiles, owing to his Jewish origin. Between the two World Wars, Albert Einstein has met some problems of that kind in France.